Coordinator, Expanded Learning, Riverside Unified School District

Geri Castro serves as the Coordinator of Expanded Learning Programs for Riverside Unified School District (RUSD), bringing over a decade of dedicated district leadership as both a former Elementary Principal and Expanded Learning Coordinator. She champions high-quality, inclusive, equity-driven out-of-school time opportunities for all students. Under her strategic vision, RUSD’s Expanded Learning Program has grown significantly, expanding from 26 to 38 elementary and middle school sites and providing robust after-school, spring, and summer programs. Today, RUSD’s EXLP after-school programs enroll over 11,000 students and serve more than 6,500 youth daily, ensuring every participant experiences a safe, nurturing, inclusive, and intellectually engaging environment tailored to whole-child development. Geri’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering site staff, fostering deep community partnerships, and leading with a restorative mindset. By embedding core values of responsibility, connectedness, and belief into everyday practice, she cultivates spaces where youth voice is elevated, equity is prioritized, and families are meaningfully supported throughout the district.