About Me

Professional Experience

Over two decades of experience in education across classroom, school, and district leadership roles
Education Leadership & Policy Studies (EdD), University of Denver — focused on improvement science and system-level change
District-level leadership experience, including evaluation systems design and implementation
Selected for targeted leadership placement at a high-priority high school to strengthen core systems including MTSS, instructional alignment, and student support structures
Co-founder of two district schools and leader in competency-based and personalized learning design
Instructional coach and evaluator supporting teachers and leaders across multiple schools
Language Arts teacher (grades 6–12) for 13 years

Selected publications, presentations, and contributions to the field:

Doctoral Dissertation (EdD, University of Denver)
Recruiting, Retaining, and Culturally Sustaining Latine Teachers in a School District with a High Population of Latine Students (2025)
Focused on improving Latine teacher retention through an improvement science approach centered on belonging, identity, and system-level change.

Aurora Institute
VOICES: Lisa Simms on Leading and Sustaining Innovation (Interviewee, 2019)
Shared insights on leading and sustaining innovation by balancing vision, teacher agency, and the productive use of conflict to drive continuous improvement.

The 74
What’s It Really Like Attending a Truly Innovative High School? 4 Students Give a Firsthand Look (Contributor, 2018)
Contributed to a feature highlighting student perspectives on innovative high school models and learner-centered design.

EWA Speaker
Ready to Design a New School? ‘Start With the Student. Educators share insights on building next-generation schools, (Contributor, 2018)
Emphasized that effective school design begins with deeply understanding students’ needs, experiences, and goals, using their perspectives to drive decisions about learning, structures, and systems.

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Personal Life

I am a proud fifth-generation Colorado Latina, lifelong learner, and educator. Raised in Pueblo by parents who built their own publishing business, I carry a deep belief in creativity, community, and possibility into my work.

I have called Denver home for nearly three decades and, outside of my work,

you’ll find me traveling, playing piano, creating stained glass, cooking, or attempting to grow the perfect (imperfect) garden.

About Me

Selected publications, presentations, and contributions to the field:

Aurora Institute VOICES: Lisa Simms on Leading and Sustaining Innovation (Interviewee, 2019) Shared insights on leading and sustaining innovation by balancing vision, teacher agency, and the productive use of conflict to drive continuous improvement.

The 74 What’s It Really Like Attending a Truly Innovative High School? 4 Students Give a Firsthand Look (Contributor, 2018) Contributed to a feature highlighting student perspectives on innovative high school models and learner-centered design.

Personal Life

Aurora Institute
VOICES: Lisa Simms on Leading and Sustaining Innovation (Interviewee, 2019)
Shared insights on leading and sustaining innovation by balancing vision, teacher agency, and the productive use of conflict to drive continuous improvement.

The 74
What’s It Really Like Attending a Truly Innovative High School? 4 Students Give a Firsthand Look (Contributor, 2018)
Contributed to a feature highlighting student perspectives on innovative high school models and learner-centered design.