Equity, Disproportionality and Design

South County SELPA
  • 5.0 (2)
  • EDUCATION

A show by the Equity, Disproportionality and Design team, a project of the South County SELPA. The Equity, Disproportionality and Design (ED&D) podcast provides access to engaging conversations with educators and community members who share their personal and professional experiences. Conversations explore their journey through education, their efforts to build equity in our schools, and barriers they've overcome to make positive change.

  1. 2D AGO

    S4 Ep. 7: Escaping the Trap: Dr. Whitaker on Leadership, Hope & Culture

    Dr. Amir Whitaker is an educator, author, human rights lawyer, and artist. He is the founder and director of Project KnuckleHead, a nonprofit organization empowering youth through music, art, and educational programs since 2012. Often referred to as “Dr. KnuckleHead,” Dr. Whitaker was introduced to the criminal justice system as a child when he visited both his mother and father in prison. At age 15, he was arrested and entered the juvenile justice system. Problems at school eventually led to him being expelled. Despite these hardships, he went on to complete five college degrees. As a lawyer referred to as a “civil rights and education stalwart” by the Daytona Times, Dr. Whitaker has negotiated settlements and policy changes that have improved the lives of youth across the country. He worked for the ACLU of Southern California for eight years from 2017-2025.  Dr. Whitaker has taught varying grade levels and in different educational settings for over a decade, and has held teaching certifications in Florida, California, and New Jersey. He has written for publications like TIME Magazine and Washington Post. Dr. Whitaker's autobiography, “The KnuckleHead’s Guide to Escaping the Trap” has been featured on ABC News and in The New Yorker. As an artist, Dr. Whitaker has collaborated with musicians around the world while studying and teaching styles of music and dance of the Afro diaspora. His art has been displayed in galleries, libraries, and billboards around the world. He is the co-founder of Afro Unidad, a Black cultural kinship movement with 50+ ambassadors across 14 countries. He received his doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, juris doctorate from the University of Miami, and his bachelors from Rutgers University. Resources Project Knucklehead The KnuckleHead’s Guide to Escaping the Trap Dr. Knucklehead Afro Unidad Social Media Instagram X LinkedIn Google Scholar

    58 min

  2. FEB 19

    S4 Ep. 6: A Critically Conscious Path to Equity in Schools

    Dr. Tracie Noriega is a second-generation Pinay, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Educator. She has served as a Teacher, Principal, Director, and Assistant Superintendent. She is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Professional Learning for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), supporting critically conscious leaders. She is also the Executive Director of the Filipino American Educators Association of CA (FAEAC) and a faculty member with the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium (LESMCC). Her dissertation research focused on supporting school leaders implementing Ethnic Studies programs, thus creating the Ethnic Studies Leadership Praxis framework. Education became her route as she was inspired by her teachers who supported her as a teen mom struggling to balance motherhood and school. She credits her Ethnic Studies professors for helping her to understand and vocalize her experiences as the daughter of Filipino immigrants. It is the Guiding Principles of Ethnic Studies that continue to keep her centered. The Youth continue to inspire her as she works to create lasting change in our educational system. Resources ACSA FAEAC LESMCC The Critically Conscious Classroom X Instagram

    51 min

  3. 11/13/2025

    S4 Ep. 5: Student Voice: Shaping Education through Leadership and Representation

    Vanessa Ejike is the Student Board Member on the California State Board of Education, attending Gretchen Whitney High School in Cerritos, California. In 2024, she was a summer intern for Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva in the California State Assembly. She is the founder of her school’s Principal’s Advisory Council, a student representative of the ABC Unified School District's Legislative/Policy Committee, and serves on the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Student Advisory Council. Resources: Website Instagram

    19 min

  4. 10/07/2025

    S4 Ep. 4: Inspiring Schools, Elevating Outcomes

    Dr. Myeshia Whigham is a first-generation high school and college graduate from Chicago with over 20 years of experience in K–12 education across San Diego County.  She recently earned her Ph.D. in Education for Social Justice from the University of San Diego, continuing her work to expand access, opportunity, and outcomes for all students.  Her career spans over two decades in education, including roles as a teacher, site leader, and district administrator focused on equity and student support.  She is currently the Principal at Lincoln Middle School in the Oceanside Unified School District. Dr. Whigham leads with intention and a deep commitment to creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered. Resources: Website Instagram

    35 min

  5. 08/27/2025

    S4 Ep. 3: Isang Bagsak: Voices Rising Together

    Tony DelaRosa is a current PhD student in the UW-Madison Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis program, where he researches the impact of coalitions, institutions, and policies on teacher and leadership practices using Asian Crit, Critical Filipinx Studies, and Du Boisian Sociology. He is the author of the award-winning book "Teaching the Invisible Race: Embodying a Pro-Asian American Lens in Schools" with Jossey-Bass / Wiley Publishing. He is also the co-investigator of the USAP Tayo Lab on Filipinx Well-being and Politics. Before research, he was an instructional coach and Director of Teacher-Leadership at Teach for America Miami-Dade, founder of the NYC Men Teach Asian American initiative, and founder of the Boston Pulse Poetry. These experiences designing, coaching, and leading direct teaching and learning programs inform his lens to policy and leadership research. His work has been featured in CNN, NPR, Harvard Education Magazine, NBC, and other publications. Learn more at TonyRosaSpeaks.com. He is currently open to working with clients for the 2025-2026 academic year for keynote speeches, lecturers, workshops, coaching, and research.  Resources: Website Instagram ⁠Book: ⁠Teaching the Invisible Race: Embodying a Pro-Asian American Lens in School

    52 min

  6. 08/06/2025

    S4 Ep. 2: Teaching Beyond the Trauma: Healing-Centered Classrooms

    Ingrid Medrano is currently a teacher in the National School District. She is a dedicated educator committed to closing achievement gaps in classrooms facing socio-economic challenges by delivering high-quality education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education with a focus on reading, as well as a Mild/Moderate Special Education K-12 Teaching Credential, which includes authorizations for severe emotional disturbance, autism, resource specialist, and English language learners. Additionally, she holds a Bilingual Multiple Subject K-6 Teaching Credential. With 15 years of experience in education, Miss Medrano has taught in various capacities, including 4th-6th Grade Mild/Moderate Special Day Class, 5th/6th Grade Spanish, 1st Grade Dual Language (50/50 model), and currently, 1st Grade General Education.  She was also recognized as one of the San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) Classroom Hero in San Diego County. Resources: National School District Follow a Dream Article SDCCU Classroom Hero

    26 min
  7. S4 Ep. 1: Artwork is Liberation Work: Creativity as a Tool for Student Becoming

    06/10/2025

    S4 Ep. 1: Artwork is Liberation Work: Creativity as a Tool for Student Becoming

    Nikko Kimzin is a joy filled professional performer, social impact producer, and cultural strategist that seeks to uplift the human spirit. As Founder and Lead Consultant with Kimzin Creative (CA based arts & equity consulting group), he centers the cultural strengths and dreams of historically marginalized communities to transform policy, funding, and placemaking. Kimzin Creative collaborates with local governments, schools/districts, and arts & culture organizations to create equitable access to culturally relevant arts processes and programming to inform public use and design. Services include: Arts education, creative producing, and consultation on community engagement and arts-as-data-collection strategies. Clients include: Google, County of Sonoma, City of Santa Rosa, William + Flora Hewlett Foundation, Petaluma River Park Foundation, Center for Cultural Innovation, and more. Awards: In 2025 Nikko was named one of North Bay Business Journal's 40 under 40 most influential business people, his work with Kimzin received a GOLD award for the 2024 Anthem Awards in “Community Engagement” in the category of “Education, Art, & Culture”, recipient of True West Film Center’s  2023 “Jackie Hoffner Heart & Hope Award”, has been a Fred Coe Artist in Residence at Vanderbilt University. Other: He has created Corporate Professional Development programs for Google, Sotheby’s and other Bay Area Executive Teams. Contributor to Sonoma County Arts Education Framework. Speaker at CA Migrant Education, CA Arts and Culture Summit, Stanford University, Emory University, UCSC and more. Resources: Kimzin Creative Instagram Facebook

    36 min
  8. S3 Ep. 9: Leading Change by Elevating Every Voice

    05/03/2025

    S3 Ep. 9: Leading Change by Elevating Every Voice

    Dr. Adam Clark is the current Superintendent of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, having joined in July 2020. Prior to this, he served as the Superintendent of the Vallejo City Unified School District. Dr. Clark has also held various leadership positions in education, including Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, and principal at all three levels. He earned his doctorate from Saint Mary's College of California. Resources: X LinkedIn Instagram CAAASA

    51 min
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A show by the Equity, Disproportionality and Design team, a project of the South County SELPA. The Equity, Disproportionality and Design (ED&D) podcast provides access to engaging conversations with educators and community members who share their personal and professional experiences. Conversations explore their journey through education, their efforts to build equity in our schools, and barriers they've overcome to make positive change.

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