Brenda Simmons, M.S.
Phone: 816-739-7648
Email: bksimmons@gwu.edu
Position:
Senior TA and Research Analyst
About Brenda:
Brenda Simmons, M. S., is a Senior Technical Assistance and Research Analyst at the George Washington University (GW), Center for Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Education (CRCRE). Brenda is currently working as a technical assistance provider for the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition:The Collaborative (NTACT:C), to assist State Education Agencies (SEAs) and State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) as they support Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and service providers in implementing effective practices and strategies to better support students and youth in making successful transitions to adult life.
Prior to joining the NTACT:C, Brenda was part of the pre-employment transition services technical assistance team under the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center (WINTAC,) funded by the US Department of Education to assist states in implementing the provisions under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Prior to her work as a national technical assistance consultant, Brenda worked as the Statewide Director of Transition Services, where she assisted in the development of statewide policies and practices for the implementation of transition-related services in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by WIOA, led the provision and implementation of transition services, including pre-employment transition services for the state VR agency, and executed staff training and technical assistance.
Brenda has almost 30 years of experience within the state public VR program, where she was employed in various leadership positions to include Lead Central Office Liaison for the VR Transition Team, Regional Director, Development and Evaluation, and District Supervisor for the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Public VR Program. Brenda also worked as the coordinator of the Missouri Transition Alliance Partnership Project (Federally funded Transition Systems Change Grant), and Supervisor of Transition Services for the Missouri Division of Special Education. Brenda holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Prior to joining the NTACT:C, Brenda was part of the pre-employment transition services technical assistance team under the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center (WINTAC,) funded by the US Department of Education to assist states in implementing the provisions under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Prior to her work as a national technical assistance consultant, Brenda worked as the Statewide Director of Transition Services, where she assisted in the development of statewide policies and practices for the implementation of transition-related services in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by WIOA, led the provision and implementation of transition services, including pre-employment transition services for the state VR agency, and executed staff training and technical assistance.
Brenda has almost 30 years of experience within the state public VR program, where she was employed in various leadership positions to include Lead Central Office Liaison for the VR Transition Team, Regional Director, Development and Evaluation, and District Supervisor for the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Public VR Program. Brenda also worked as the coordinator of the Missouri Transition Alliance Partnership Project (Federally funded Transition Systems Change Grant), and Supervisor of Transition Services for the Missouri Division of Special Education. Brenda holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
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