About me
Simone Garcia is an impactful executive with expertise in developing and implementing solutions in education, community development and government. Simone works comfortably with C-Suite leaders and peers in a variety of industries and is a thought leader on innovation. Using her well-honed business acumen, Simone provides strategic and tactical leadership to effectively recruit and manage boards; implement programs, and deliver empowering presentations.
Simone was recruited to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), where she leads strategy for the DC Career and Technical Education (DC CTE) Executive Advisory Board. Simone developed the DC Career Academy Network (DC CAN) – a brand that was built in less than six years, resulting in a national reputation for effective education leadership. She later expanded to create similar programs across District high schools within multiple CTE career pathways under the DC CTE Network. Simone recruits executive leaders to build industry advisory boards (IAB) and works with the NAF Academies, a national network of education, business and community leaders and received the NAF President’s Award for her work. In addition to the DC Career Academy Network, Simone also created the Career and Technical Education Certification Program and the Postsecondary Career Improvement Program.
Prior to joining the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Simone was a rising executive in the housing community, where she was known for empowering communities through self-sufficiency programs, including a particular focus on Section 3 compliance for businesses and residents in housing programs. She took a relatively underutilized Federal program and created career and business opportunities for housing authority families, tripling the number of participants during her tenure, recognized as a best practice among Federal leadership.
Simone remains a champion of using diversity as a ladder for community and economic development for underserved communities. She is a member of the Junior League of Washington, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the DC Chapter of the Association of Career and Technical Education. Simone is a proud alumnus of the University of Maryland Global Campus, receiving both her MBA and undergraduate degrees, and is a design alumnus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, John Donaldson Arts Campus in Trinidad, West Indies.