Meet the Podcast Hosts

Dr. Deborah E. Montoya

Deborah is the Executive Director of the South County SELPA. She has over 20 years of experience leading programs for students with disabilities. Deborah is a strong advocate for students with disabilities, English language learners/Multilingual learners, and dually-identified students. She believes in the important work of educators, and the array of opportunities they can provide to ensure equitable, inclusive & accessible learning environments for each student.

She has worked as a School Psychologist, Principal, Director of Special Education & Support Services at the LEA level, Sr. Director with the Imperial County Office of Education, 5 years as the Imperial County SELPA Director, and Executive Director with the Oceanside USD. For the last 8 years, she has been leading the work in partnership with the Imperial County SELPA's Content Lead Grant: Improving Outcomes for Multilingual Learners with Exceptional Needs (Project MuSE), as funded by the California Department of Education and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.

Jennifer Gorospe tull

Jenn is an Executive Consultant with the South County SELPAs Equity, Disproportionality, and Design (ED&D) Team. She has provided support in comprehensive settings as a school psychologist, program specialist and special education coordinator in districts (PreK-12) across Southern California and Washington D.C., building genuine, lasting relationships with the families, educators, and districts she serves along the way. She has extensive experience in special education law and compliance, data analytics, systems level leadership, equity and disproportionality reduction, MTSS/PBIS systems, alternate dispute resolution, and technical assistance, along with a record of designing and delivering high-impact professional learning, compliance support, inclusive programming, and community and family engagement support. She was also a lecturer for the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at San Diego State University.

Nitza Romero

Nitza is an Executive Consultant with the South County SELPAs Equity, Disproportionality, and Design (ED&D) Team. She brings more than 20 years of experience supporting students, families, educators, and school districts. Her experience spans in special education law and compliance, due process, systems level leadership, alternative dispute resolution and strengthening family-school partnerships. Prior to joining the team, she served as a SELPA Program Administrator, SELPA Coordinator, Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services, Special Education Coordinator, and School Psychologist.

Megan Adams

Megan is the Coordinator of Data Reporting with South County SELPA, where she uses her knowledge of school systems and data analytics to support school districts. She specializes in providing comprehensive support to families and educators in special education and student services, bringing a genuine, caring approach to every partnership she builds. Her expertise spans SELPA leadership and governance, IEP compliance and due process, budget and program oversight, data analytics, public speaking, project management, special education law, compliance, and special education finance.

Russell Coronado

Former Host