Equity, Disproportionality and Design

South County SELPA

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 10: The Power of Belonging: Leading Through Connection

    Dr. Felicia Singleton is the Executive Director of Whole Child & Community Design at the San Diego County Office of Education, where she works alongside educational leaders to design systems that center the well-being, belonging, and thriving of every child. Her work focuses on helping schools and communities move beyond programs to build child-centered ecosystems where learning, joy, safety, and connection coexist. Her leadership is deeply influenced by a traditional Maasai greeting often exchanged between adults: “And how are the children?” In Maasai culture, the expected response is simple yet profound: “The children are well.” For Dr. Singleton, this question serves as both a greeting and a charge reminding us that the well-being of children is a shared responsibility and a measure of the well-being and sustainability of our communities. Guided by a commitment to justice, belonging, and collective care, Dr. Singleton’s work is anchored in the principles of restorative justice practices, whole child development, and systems transformation. Her desire to remain closely connected to restorative justice practice and her deep commitment to disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline is fueled by her adjunct faculty position at the University of San Diego where she teaches restorative justice practices in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences. Dr. Singleton holds a Doctor of Education from the University of California, San Diego. Her research explores the intersection of ecological systems theory, restorative justice practices, and collective impact, with a focus on how communities can work together to create conditions where all children and the adults who care for them authentically belong and can truly thrive.  Resources Whole Child & Community Design Website  San Diego County Office of Education Parenting the Whole Child Podcast USD Center for Restorative Justice Instagram

  2. Jul 1

    S4 Ep 9: The Long Game: Equity, Data and What Comes Next

    Russell Y. Coronado is a highly respected educator with an outstanding reputation for advocating for compliant, student-focused programs. Mr. Coronado's professional career began as an instructional aide for the San Diego Unified School District. He subsequently became a School Psychologist in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. He then began his special education administration journey in 2004 and served as the Executive Director of the South County SELPA from 2012 to 2026. Resources South County Special Education Local Plan Area  San Diego County Office of EducationED&D LinkedIn Instagram

  3. Apr 27

    S4 Ep 8: Care in Action: Support without Limits

    Dr. Elvia C. Estrella serves as the Coordinator of School Counseling and School-Based Mental Health for the Sweetwater Union High School District. In her role, she leads the district’s Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services and oversees the district’s outpatient mental health clinic, ensuring equitable access to wellness and clinical supports for students and families. Dr. Estrella also develops and sustains partnerships with community-based organizations to strengthen the continuum of care across schools and the broader community. With over two decades of experience as a school counselor, program manager, and adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University, Dr. Estrella has dedicated her career to advancing trauma-informed practices, equity-driven leadership, and student-centered support systems. Her work reflects a deep commitment to improving educational outcomes for historically underserved youth and fostering collaboration between education and mental health sectors. Resources School Counselors: Brokers of Hope Website Instagram SDSU

  4. Mar 11

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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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