August 21, 2025
Big Changes are Coming for School Leadership
Big changes are coming for school leadership—here’s your timeline to stay on track.
Introducing Our Executive Leadership
CEO, GradMasters, LLC
Mr. Simmons is the CEO and founder of Gradmasters-LLC, an educational consulting firm dedicated to advancing effective teaching practices and educational equity. With 34 years of experience in public education as both a teacher and school administrator, Mr. Simmons brings a wealth of practical knowledge and insight to his work. Mr. Simmons hold three master’s degrees (Health Ed., Special Education, Education Administration) and has spent the past 22 years teaching graduate-level education courses, specializing in curriculum development, childhood development, and special education. Throughout his career, Mr. Simmons has been passionate about supporting educators, schools, and districts in creating inclusive, engaging, and impactful learning environments for all students. His commitment to high-quality education has made him a valued and trusted leader in the field of education.
CFO, GradMasters, LLC
Dr. James Curtis Brown is the CFO of GradMasters, LLC. He is the retired Administrative Educational Officer for the New York City Department of Education Queens South High Schools District. In this position, he served as the district’s grant administrator and fiscal liaison between the New York City Public School’s Central Office Team for budget, human resources, finance, procurement and operations and the district’s executive team. In this capacity, he also provided operational and administrative leadership coaching to the school principals of high and secondary schools. These schools are located in both the Bronx and Queens counties of New York City. Prior to this experience, Dr. Brown served as a principal for fifteen years with the responsibility for the expert management of school budgets ranging from five to 35 million dollars annually.
In both leadership capacities, Dr. Brown provided masterful and impactful instructional coaching and supervision to hundreds of teachers of all certifications. The impact of this work has been recognized multiple times by New York State Education Department awarding Dr. Brown’s school as a High Performing/Closing the Achievement Gap school, as well as, by New York City Board of Education and Council of Supervisors and Administrators through a CSA Performance Incentive Award. Dr. Brown is the co-author of Raising Scholars from Infancy to Adulthood: Preparing Our Children for College and Demolishing Prison Walls, a book on the effective parental practices that result in high academic achievement. Currently, Dr. Brown provides leadership and pedagogical coaching as remunerated consultant. He continues to serve as a dissertation committee member for doctoral students and candidates at Manhattanville University.
COO, GradMasters, LLC
Ms. Coleen Crespo is the COO of GradMasters, LLC. A dynamic, accomplished Data & Information Management expert respected for >35 years of experience planning and integrating records, project management, information management policies, vendor management, database application testing, writing guidelines, and SOPs. Ms. Crespo is a proven motivational, influential leader and collaborator who ensures accuracy and quality; including supporting key audits and software testing. She is experienced at building and maintaining lasting relationships, leveraging communication skills to negotiate contracts and deliver superior customer service. Out-of-the-box thinker committed to improving systems and processes to exceed expectations. Ms. Crespo holds a BS in Chemistry and Biology minor, Masters of Information Science, and certificate in Clinical Research–Data Management. She is experienced in the education system, 15 years of academic research at Duke University Clinical Research Institute (DCRI); a previous remedial math instructor, reading tutor, and substitute teacher at elementary, middle and high school levels.
CEO GradMasters LLC
COO GradMasters LLC
CFO GradMasters LLC
Empowering educators and working professionals through innovative, flexible, and affordable education. Our strategic partnerships with colleges and universities provide accessible pathways to advanced degrees in school counseling, education administration, and special education. Our programs foster professional growth, celebrate cultural diversity, nurture persistence, and create a community of compassionate, skilled, and innovative education professionals.
To prepare and equip educators to become highly qualified professionals who enhance and persist in culturally diverse school systems.
Big changes are coming for school leadership—here’s your timeline to stay on track.
