who we are
There is no them. Just us. All of Us.
The Equity Collective is made up of several departments within San Diego Unified dedicated to uplifting and centering the tenets of equity, anit-bias, and anti-racism pedagogy. Together, we support students, families, and staff in creating choice-filled lives for the young scholars we serve.
executive director
We embody Liberatory Design and Socially Conscious Leadership to support the thorough investigation of social inequity and systems of oppression. Through collaboration across discipline and departments, the Equity Collective commits to the dismantling of inequitable social structures and the creation of an educational system that practices radical love, equity, and inclusion.
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Thoughtful interrogation and disruption of both internal and external systems of inequity allows the Equity Collective to identify harmful structures and address the mindsets that perpetuate bias so that we may dream and design systems and structures that equitably and responsively serve our community. Whether through organizational learning, coaching, programs, or resources, our team supports the development of a holistic framework designed to deepen San Diego Unified School District's commitment to, and practice of, equity, belonging, and inclusion.
Ebonee Weathers (she/her)
team us
Explore the websites of our Equity Collective departments by clicking on their logos below
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Jen Carpenter (she/her)
Director
Our work is about creating the equitable conditions within our classrooms that focus on accelerating academics by supporting students' social and emotional well-being and supporting all children in mastering rigorous grade level standards. We can achieve this by eliminating systemic barriers to access and opportunity, and collectively building school communities that are anti-biased, anti-racist, and restorative.
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Kimberly Moore (she/her)
Executive Director
Diversity, Inclusion, & Development is an internal role in SDUSD. This department is responsible for the development of a teacher pipeline program for our students as well as our diversity and inclusion programs for our workforce. The Diversity & Inclusion Office provides for the advancement of equality, diversity and inclusion in our current recruitment and retention programs to impact equity across our system.
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Toya Profit (she/her)
Program Manager
Ethnic Studies is a content and pedagogy that humanizes and empowers all. Ethnic Studies cultivates love for ALL students by engaging in the critique and challenging of power & oppression across systemic, interpersonal, and internalized levels.Ethnic studies connects learning to past & contemporary movements for social justice while conceptualizing collective hope, healing & liberation.
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Pamela King (she/her)
Program Manager
We are here to support our staff, families and community partners in engaging in highly effective practices that bring stakeholders together for student success. We believe that positive relationships between families and schools serve to strengthen our collective leadership for the betterment of the community.
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John Ross (he/him)
Program Manager
Placement and Appeal is responsible for all aspects of the expulsion process including screening the cases, conducting hearings, interim placements, counseling students & families, and reinstatement back to schools as governed by California Education Code & District procedures.
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Dr. Michelle Ferrer (she/her)
Program Manager
In SDUSD, the purpose of restorative justice is to cultivate relationships that help build & sustain a school culture that is positive & welcoming for students, staff, and families. We envision equitable and just schools where educational partners experience connection, belonging, & thriving.
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Maria Schembri (she/her)
Program Manager
The Department of Youth Advocacy seeks to create environments that promote the safety and affirmation of all students by fostering a culture of care and respect that extends throughout the entire school district, cultivating a platform for student voice that builds agency, ensuring educational justice for all.
biographies
Who we are is greater than or equal to what we do.
ebonee weathers
she/her/hers
Executive Director,
Equity & Belonging
I am a mom, sister, daughter, partner, and friend. My favorite color is black. I am a left-handed aquarian who loves to read, crochet, and watch a good movie. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, I prefer cold weather to the scorching hot. I could eat Cinnabon every day. I believe love is love, Black lives matter, no human is illegal, and kindness is everything.
jen carpenter
she/her/hers
Director,
Academics Through Agency
Finding a balance between being a director, a mother to 2 boys, a wife, a good human, and doing all the things I love. I handle it by letting go of what I can’t control and focusing on what I can. Work passions include social emotional and academic integration, literacy acceleration, and coaching, Personal passions include watching little leaguers play ball and eating new food in new places.
kimberly moore
To know me is to know my family and its history. I come from a family of freedom riders, voting rights advocates and community leaders. My family grounds me; they remind me of who I am and the legacy of my ancestors. They inspire me to lead for social change.
I believe each interaction we have is an opportunity to shape the community we want for our students and ourselves—a place where each person feels they are welcomed, they belong, and that they are seen for the gifts they bring. A place that is free from bias, racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia. Each day I seek to learn more, lean in to my fear, and evolve as a human being. I’m learning emergent strategy, liberatory design, and socially conscious leadership.
she/her/hers
Executive Director,
Diversity, Inclusion & Development
toya profit
she/her/hers
Program Manager,
Ethnic Studies
Adventurer, Explorer, and Student
I am the daughter of educators and sibling of kings and queens,
I am descended from the Yourba, Igbo, and Mandinka people
I’m related to the O’Connors and O’Sullivan Mor’s of South Ireland.
My people were enslaved and violated by the Pugh’s from Wales and Pellerin from France.
Two of us have been lynched in trees, and Twenty of us have preached from pullpits
We are teachers, leaders, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and protesters
Many of my people are buried on the land of the Chitimacha
We have fought in every single war on US soil.
I am Acadian, Creole, and Cajun.
I am American and so much more
I invite you to this work we do, to celebrate and interrogate your own past.
I look forward to meeting you and building together.
I thank you for your inquiry and your bravery
May Love guide us in all that we do.
pamela king
she/her/hers
Program Manager,
Family Engagement
Pamela King, a native of Louisiana, is the youngest of a family of eight children. Raised by a single parent, Pamela is the first and only child in her family to attend and graduate from college. With over 27 years in the San Diego Unified School District, Pamela worked in various capacities (i.e., teacher’s assistant, noon duty, Prime Time, reading specialist, classroom teacher, resource teacher at site/central office, and program manager) to support student learning. Pamela’s love for inspiring others to rise beyond their foreseeable potential is an extraordinary attribute that she manifests in her actions and work ethic daily.
john ross
he/him/his
Program Manager,
Placement & Appeal
As a child, some of my afternoons were spent sorting crayons, passing out papers or putting the chairs on the desks so the custodian could come in and sweep. I enjoyed helping my mother who was an elementary teacher in our district for many years before retiring. My siblings and I are also products of San Diego Unified. I attended Baker Elementary and Rolando Park then SCPA when I promoted from sixth grade. I remained there until graduating from high school. I then matriculated to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where I obtained a degree in English; it was a very enriching experience. I was introduced to some of my favorite authors and pieces of literature during my time at Morehouse. I returned to San Diego shortly after earning my BA. I enrolled in a teaching credential program at the University of San Diego and earned a single subject credential.
However, after obtaining my teaching credential, I wasn’t sure I wanted to teach. So, I joined the San Diego Police Academy and after a year, decided to return to education. Over the years I’ve taught at a variety of grade levels. After a couple years working as dean of students at Lincoln High School, I returned to USD to obtain an administrative credential. I’ve served as associate administrator and principal in the San Diego Unified School District for several years. In my current role, I serve as Program Manager of the Placement and Appeal Department. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
michelle ferrer
she/her/hers
Program Manager,
Restorative Justice Practices
Dr. Ferrer (she/hers) was born in Manila, Philippines and raised in the Bay Area. She currently serves as the Restorative Justice Practices, Program Manager at San Diego Unified School District. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at San Francisco State University and holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco. She recently completed her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University. The title of her dissertation is A Love Letter Written on Bamboo: Cantering Educators’ Narratives on Restorative Justice.Â
maria schembri
she/her/hers
Program Manager,
Youth Advocacy
Maria Schembri (she/her) is a mother, educator, animal lover, and youth advocate. She grew up in South San Diego and graduated from SDSU. She was an English teacher at Granite Hills High School for 18 years. She was also her school’s GSA advisor. This work sparked a fire within her and led to her current role as Program Manager for the Office of Youth Advocacy in SDUSD where she works to create equitable systematic practices and supports for ALL youth.
haydee zavala
she/her/hers
Instructional Coordinator,
Equity & Beloning
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When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
-audre lorde
we value your voice
We need your voice to inform the work that we do. Please take a couple of minutes to share your thoughts by clicking the button below. Throughout the year, we will pose various equity questions to gather feedback and input from our educational partners. Thank you for sharing your voice.