LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — Laguna Beach Unified School District has released a white paper examining findings from Laguna Beach High School’s Social Media Silence Challenge, a voluntary five-day pilot designed to explore students’ experiences with social media use, attention, and well-being.

The Social Media Silence Challenge began with a simple question: What would students notice if they stepped away from social media for one week?

The Laguna Beach High School counseling team developed this voluntary digital wellness initiative in response to ongoing conversations with students about distraction, stress, screen time, sleep, and the pressure to “always be connected.” Rather than adding to the stream of adults talking at students about whether social media is “good” or “bad,” the team sought to give students space to step back, examine their own habits, and feel empowered to make confident, thoughtful decisions about how social media fits into their lives.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — Laguna Beach Unified School District has named Director of Facilities and Sustainability Ryan Zajda the recipient of the 2026 Spirit of Laguna Award.

Laguna Beach Unified School District has selected longtime LBUSD educator and arts leader Alexis Karol to serve as the district’s coordinator of visual and performing arts, a new role focused on strengthening arts education, expanding student access, and deepening partnerships with Laguna Beach’s arts community.

El Morro Elementary School teacher Kathleen Margaretich has been named a 2026 Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator by the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE). Margaretich is among 11 Orange County educators and community leaders selected for the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards, which recognize individuals expanding opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.