New South County SELPA Academy Expands Specialized Support for Students and Families

Every student deserves a place where they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. It’s in these safe spaces where trust begins to take root, and where students, particularly those who have experienced trauma or have internal barriers that make communication and socialization difficult, feel seen and understood and begin to thrive.

This school year, this type of learning environment is now more accessible to families in south San Diego County with the opening of the South County SELPA Academy. The academy is a new specialized school designed to meet the academic, behavioral, and therapeutic needs of students in grades TK through 6 whose needs cannot be fully met in a traditional comprehensive school setting.

Located in Bonita and operated by the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) in affiliation with the San Diego County Office of Education, the South County SELPA Academy provides individualized instruction, therapeutic support, and a nurturing environment where students can build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills they need to be successful in school and in life.

“For many students, success begins with finding a learning environment that meets their unique strengths and needs, a place where they feel like they are understood and feel like they belong,” said Evan Henry, principal of South County SELPA Academy. “Our team has carefully and intentionally built this program to meet behavioral and mental health needs that cannot be met in a traditional school setting. Our focus is to provide a restorative and trauma-informed approach to meeting those students’ needs, and help them build the skills they need to successfully transition back to their home schools when they’re ready.”

The South County SELPA Academy aims to create that environment through a highly individualized approach that supports the whole child while partnering closely with families, service providers, and school districts. With the goal of students ultimately returning to their own district schools, the academy aims to be a key component of the continuum of support students receive where they’ll learn and build the skills they need to succeed.

“Often times we see that when students lack a sense of safety and trust, or feel simply like they don’t belong, this is when some of the challenges with communication and behavior arise,” said Henry. “Once we introduce them to an environment where they feel safe and understood, then we start to see a change in the way they’re able to communicate their needs. It’s our goal to help them build these skills and confidence so they can ultimately thrive in any environment.”

Students attending the new academy benefit from low student to staff ratios and support from a dedicated team of experienced special education teachers and instructional support staff, social workers, a board-certified behavioral program specialist, behavioral assistants, a speech and language pathologist, and a school psychologist.

“The South County SELPA Academy represents an important addition to the continuum of services available to our students and families in the region,” said Rebecca Nobriga, interim executive director for the South County SELPA. “Principal Evan Henry and his team bring extensive experience in supporting students with complex needs, and families can feel confident their children will receive highly individualized care from processionals who are committed to helping every student grow academically, socially, and emotionally.”

Enrollment for the new school is limited to referrals made through a student’s IEP process after eligibility is determined.

For more information, district representatives are encouraged to visit the South County SELPA Academy website or call 619-652-4140 to schedule a tour.