Monica Simonsen

Monica Simonsen is Director of Teacher Education in the University of Maryland College of Education, where she provides strategic leadership for undergraduate and graduate educator preparation. Her work spans educator preparation, recruitment and enrollment, accreditation and assessment, clinical practice, and partnerships with P–12 school systems and community colleges. monica simonsen cv

Simonsen brings extensive experience across P–12 education, higher education, educator preparation, and workforce development. Her areas of expertise include teacher preparation and licensure, adult and nontraditional learners, online and hybrid learning, instructional coaching, special education, secondary transition, and the development of accessible pathways into education and the workforce. She has held leadership and faculty roles focused on program development and redesign, professional learning, enrollment and recruitment, accreditation, and the development of partnerships among universities, school systems, government agencies, and community organizations. monica simonsen cv

A consistent focus throughout her career has been understanding the needs of learners and communities and bringing people and organizations together to develop responsive, sustainable solutions. Her work emphasizes expanding access to educator preparation, strengthening the educator workforce, supporting innovative approaches to professional learning and clinical practice, and creating systems that support learners across educational and career transitions.

Simonsen began her career as a special education teacher and is a former National Board Certified Teacher in Exceptional Needs. She earned her B.S., M.Ed., and Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Maryland and a graduate certificate in Educational Administration from Towson University.

Honors & Awards

2025- DO GOOD Rise Award, University of Maryland 

2021- Faculty Innovation Award, University of Maryland Global Campus

2018- Institute for Emerging Leadership (IELOL), Online Learning Consortium

2011- Patricia Sitlington Emerging Researcher Award, Council for Exceptional Children (CEC-DCDT)

2004- Advisor of the Year, Best Buddies International 

2002- Rookie Teacher of the Year, Baltimore County Public Schools 

Selected Grants & Funded Initiatives

Project ChART: Collaborative Hub for Advancing Responsive Teacher Preparation

Funder: Maryland Higher Education Commission
Award: $175,000
Role: Principal Investigator

Project ChART strengthens pathways into the teaching profession by providing individualized licensure navigation and support for prospective and current educators. The initiative brings together higher education and school-system partners to address barriers to teacher licensure and develop responsive approaches to strengthening Maryland’s educator workforce.

University System of Maryland Alternative Teacher Preparation Program

Funder: Maryland Higher Education Commission, Teacher Quality and Diversity Grant Program
Award: $96,531
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

A statewide initiative to develop a flexible, affordable, and accessible alternative pathway to teacher licensure, particularly for educators already teaching under conditional licensure. The program brings together institutions across the University System of Maryland to develop asynchronous coursework paired with intensive instructional coaching.

Virtual Instructional Coaching and Teacher Induction Partnership

Funder: Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Leads Initiative
Award: $164,000 awarded to St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Role: Higher Education Partner/Project Lead, University of Maryland Global Campus

A partnership between University of Maryland Global Campus and St. Mary’s County Public Schools designed to strengthen induction and support for early-career and conditionally licensed teachers. The initiative used video-based observation and asynchronous feedback to connect novice teachers with experienced mentors, support reflective instructional coaching, and explore sustainable approaches to teacher development and retention.

Book Chapters

Simonsen, M., Fabian, E. & Ethridge, G. (2021). Youth and adults with psychiatric disabilities: Improving career and employment. In D. Strauser (Ed.), Career Development, Employment and Disability: From Theory to Practice. New York: Springer.

Simonsen, M., Morningstar, M.E. & Dojonovic, S. (2020). Trends in transition educator personnel preparation. In Wehmeyer, M. & Shogren, K. (Eds.). Handbook of adolescent transition education for youth with disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

Simonsen, M., Brasseur-Hock, I. & Hock, M. (2020). Transition for students with learning disabilities. In Wehmeyer, M. & Shogren, K. (Eds.). Handbook of adolescent transition education for youth with disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

Morningstar, M. & Simonsen, M. (2018). Working with the community to promote interagency collaboration. In Morningstar, M.E. & Clavenna-Deane, E. (Eds.). Help! I’m a Transition Coordinator, Now What Do I Do? Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

Simonsen, M.L., Morningstar, M.E. & Xie, Jingrong (2016). Student engagement in online and distance learning. In Scott, L.A. & Thoma, C.A. (Eds.). Universal design for distance education: A guide for online course development. Ann Arbor, MI; XanEdu Publishing.

Simonsen, M., Stuart, C., Luecking, R., & Certo, N. J. (2013). Collaboration among school and post- school agencies for seamless transition. In K. Storey & D. Hunter (Eds.), The road ahead: Transition to adult life for persons with disabilities (3rd edition). Washington, DC: IOS Press.

Simonsen, M., Fabian, E. & Ethridge, G. (2013). Youth and adults with psychiatric disabilities: Improving career and employment. In D. Strauser (Ed.), Career Development, Employment and Disability: From Theory to Practice. New York: Springer.

Selected Refereed Journal Articles

Gratz, E., Bouchey, B., Kohlor, M., Knott, J.L., & Simonsen, M.L., (2021). Creating authentic learning through online personal learning networks. International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design, 11(2).

Mazzotti, V. L., Rowe, D. A., Simonsen, M., Boaz, B., & VanAvery, C. (2018). Steps for Implementing a State-Level Professional Development Plan for Secondary Transition. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(1), 56-62. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143417741478

Simonsen, M.L., Novak, J.A., & Mazzotti, V.L. (2018). Status of credentialing structures related to secondary transition: A state-level policy analysis. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(1), 27-38. doi:10.1177/2165143417742109.

Plotner, A. J., & Simonsen, M. L. (2018). Examining Federally Funded Secondary Transition Personnel Preparation Programs. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(1), 39- 49. doi: 10.1177/2165143417742138.

Mazzotti, V. L., Rowe, D. A., Simonsen, M., Boaz, B., & Vanavery, C. (2017). Steps for implementing a state-level professional development plan for secondary transition. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(1), 56-62. doi:10.1177/2165143417741478

Fabian, E., Simonsen, M., Deschamps, A., Shengli, D., & Luecking, D. M. (2016). Service system collaboration in transition: An empirical exploration of its effects on rehabilitation outcomes for students with disabilities. Journal Of Rehabilitation, 82(3), 3-10.

Simonsen, M., Fabian, E. & Luecking, R. (2015). Employers’ preferences for hiring youth with disabilities, Journal of Rehabilitation, 10- 19. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A409548737/HRCA?u=anon~7689c57b&sid=googleScholar&xid=414b2ef1

Simonsen, M. Stuart, C., Luecking, R. & Certo, N. (2013). Collaboration among school and post-school agencies for seamless transition. Assistive Technology Research Series. 34, 137-154. doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-313-1-137.

Simonsen, M. & Neubert, D. (2013). Transitioning youth with intellectual and other developmental disabilities: Predicting community employment outcomes. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals. doi:10.1177/216543412469399.

Tilson, G. & Simonsen, M. (2013). The personnel factor: Exploring the personal attributes of highly successful employment specialists who work with transition-age youth. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 38(2), 125-137. doi:10.3233/JVR-130626

Moon, S., Simonsen, M. & Neubert, D. (2011). Perceptions of supported employment providers: What students with developmental disabilities, families, and educators need to know for transition planning education and training in developmental disabilities. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 46, 94-105.