Board votes to hire Brandon Guevara as first board liaison

The Orange County Board of Education voted July 9 to approve the hiring of Brandon Guevara as the board’s first board liaison, with a planned start date of July 15. Trustees said Guevara emerged from a competitive process; Superintendent Dr. Bean and staff participated in interviews and recommended candidates. Board members on a de facto committee that reviewed applicants described Guevara’s résumé as including a master's in public administration from Grand Canyon University, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Irvine, grassroots organizing and community‑outreach experience, bilingual Spanish skills and experience in events and communications. Board members discussed the first assignments for the liaison role. Dr. Bean and board counsel said Guevara would participate in Sacramento advocacy; the board noted Guevara would travel to lobby against SB 249 and could also support opposition to AB 84 at committee hearings. The board approved the hiring by roll-call vote with all trustees voting yes. No salary or contract terms were discussed on the record at the July 9 meeting; staff indicated logistics and onboarding would be handled by the superintendent’s office and board counsel. Trustee Tim Shaw, who served on the review committee, said Guevara "did a terrific job in the interview."