Equity, Disproportionality and Design

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 journe...

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 dev...

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...

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...

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/...

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, includ...

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 America...

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 f...

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...

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 a...

Josh Chuck  is a fourth-generation resident of San Francisco's Chinatown, where his family has deep roots, including doctors, merchants, teachers, and pastors. With over 25 years of experience as a youth worker, filmmaker, and fundraiser, he is deeply committed to his community. He recently co-directed his first feature documentary,  CHINATOWN RISING , alongside his father, Rev. Harry Chuck and ha...

As an Author of  CHAMPIONS Creed , Speaker and NCAA, WNBA & NBA G-League Broadcaster,  Marke Freeman  works with organizations, teams and individuals worldwide educating, equipping and empowering through sports. She has explored all four corners of sports as a Professional Athlete, College Coach, Sports Analyst and Director of Player Development for her own Skills Academy – Max-OUT Basketball....

Joseph Clevenger Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Programs at the San Diego County Office of Education , overseeing student safety, Juvenile Court and Community Schools, and Special Education Services. As a former Superintendent with over 20 years of educational experience dedicated to expanding equitable access and opportunities for all students, he understands the impact of Syste...

Dr. Rebecca Penh is an Executive Leadership Coach in the Learning and Leadership Division at the San Diego County Office of Education. Dr. Penh is an educator with over 20 years of experience.  Within that time she has been a classroom teacher, Resource Teacher (where she provided instructional training and support for all teachers), a school principal, and a district administrator.  This continuu...

Ken Shelton (He/Him/His) is a highly distinguished, multi-award-winning professional and best-selling author in the field of education. He holds a Master’s degree in Education with a specific focus on Educational Technology and New Media Design and Production. His academic background is complemented by over two decades of teaching experience, with a significant part of his career devoted to shapin...

Dr. Tracey A. Benson, CEO of Tracey A. Benson Consulting and founder of the  Anti-Racist Leadership Institute , received his doctorate in Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Masters of School Administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has served as an assistant professor of educational leadership, high school principal, middle school vic...

Dan Engel is a visionary and dynamic non-profit, social enterprise, operating, financial and investment executive who has spent the past 16 years devoted to impacting the communities in which he lives, works and operates. Dan began his professional career as an investment banker, helped build a company that was sold to Berkshire Hathaway, became a nonprofit junkie, resumed his financial career man...

Linnette Castañeda is currently the Director of Educational Services for National School District.  She has served as an instructional assistant in Special Education, a teacher in elementary schools, a resource teacher, and a principal. Under her principalship, her school became recognized as a PBIS Platinum Level school.  During her leadership, she has organized the district's inaugural Back...

High Quality IEPs ( HQ IEPs )  Resource Lead Project works collaboratively within the Statewide System of Support to increase the knowledge and engagement of families and students and build the capacity of LEAs, COEs, and SELPAs so that IEP design and development will result in educational benefit. Additionally, they provide technical assistance to LEAs identified by the California Department of E...

Eugene Hamilton, is a renowned speaker, youth advocate and educational consultant that has had the privilege of delivering more than 500 keynote presentations in over 25 U.S. States and internationally in such places as: England; Bermuda; Zimbabwe; the Virgin Islands and Canada. Currently, he serves as the Lead Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of The Eugene Hamilton Group , a professional sp...

Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade is Professor of Latina/o Studies and Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University. Biography: Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade is Professor of Latina/o Studies and Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University. He was a founder of the Roses in Concrete Community School , a community responsive lab school in East Oakland and has been a classroom teach...

Jennifer Boettger is a Statewide Lead in the Open Access UDL project . The Open Access Project is funded by the California Department of Education and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence as a content Lead within California's Collaborative for Educational Excellence.  Biography: Jennifer Boettger is a Statewide Lead in the Open Access UDL project. In the role, Jennifer works...

Luisa Paningbatan , Executive Director, Whole Child and Community Design Student Services and Programs, and Erin Mahone y, Senior Director, Community Schools Whole Child and Community Design at the San Diego County Office of Education Biographies: Luisa Paningbatan has over 20 years of experience in education. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Whole Child and Community Design at th...

Lupita Olguin-Rubio  and Vanessa Lopez are both Coordinators of Inclusionary Practices at Project MuSE, Imperial County SELPA. Project MuSE is a Special Education Resource Lead within the Statewide System of Support. Biographies: Lupita Olguin-Rubio  is a Coordinator of Inclusionary Practices at Imperial County SELPA. Ms. Olguin-Rubio has over 25 years of experience as a curriculum coordinator pro...

Dr. Joaquín Noguera , Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Administration at Loyola Marymount University's School of Education. Biography: Dr. Joaquín Noguera earned his Ph. D. in social science and comparative education and a master’s degree in education from UCLA. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from St. John’s University. He is a former social worker, K-12 teacher, s...