Meet the Podcast Hosts

marcus jackson

Executive Consultant with South County SELPA’s Equity and Disproportionality Team. He supports districts with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and school culture. He has served as a school psychologist in K-12 comprehensive and alternative settings. Marcus was a principal at alternative and comprehensive school sites.

Barby Castro

Executive Consultant with the Equity, Disproportionality, and Design team at South County SELPA. Prior to joining the San Diego County Office of Education, she worked for San Bernardino City USD for 10 years. She started as a Special Day Class Teacher and transitioned as an RSP Teacher, where she served as one of the district’s Demonstration Teacher for teaching and learning. She then became a Program Specialist for the Continuous Improvement Division with the intent of building the capacity of school teams in identified ATSI and CSI schools. She spent the last 5 years as the Coordinator and the Assistant Director for the Special Education Department, where she managed teams and programs as well as provided system-based instructional and compliance support through coaching cycles of improvement.

Russell Y. Coronado

Executive Director of the San Diego South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).  A highly respected educator with an outstanding reputation for advocating for compliant, student-focused programs, Mr. Coronado has successfully delivered comprehensive special education training and programming throughout the South County Region. As a member of the State SELPA Association Finance Committee and SELPA Coalition Steering Committee, he provides valuable insight into Special Education funding and finances. 

Mr. Coronado guides and advocates for the six-member school districts and the San Diego County Office of Education in all facets of special education under IDEA.  He has developed a specific emphasis in the area of second language learners, at-risk youth and under-represented students.  He has built a reputation around Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Equity and Disproportionality, Promoting the social and academic well-being of children throughout San Diego County. 

Mr. Coronado has served as an adjunct professor for a local university.  He has served on many boards including the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Education, YMCA, and the National University Special Education Advisory Board.  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 began his special education administration journey in 2004 and has served as the Executive Director of the South County SELPA since 2012.  

“To support and celebrate the personal, social and academic success of every student, every day!”