Jerry W. Simmons

Jerry W. Simmons received his Juris Doctorate from the Pepperdine University School of Law. He received his Masters degree in Education Policy and Administration from Harvard University, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Jose State University. During law school, he worked at the California State University and California Community College General Counsel’s Offices and represented special education students as part of Pepperdine Law School’s Special Education Legal Clinic. While at Harvard, he served as Teaching Fellow for Harvard University’s K-12 Law and Higher Education Law courses.

Prior to joining Spector, Middleton, Young & Minney, LLP, Mr. Simmons was a senior associate at the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC), which provided technical assistance to hundreds of developing and operating charter schools. While Mr. Simmons’ practice involves all matters relating to charter school creation and operation, his focus is on employment and labor law, property law (facilities lease and facilities use agreements, zoning and building code compliance), contract law, board governance, development of memorandums of understanding relating to school services, State Board of Education waivers, financial audit findings defense, policy development, and compliance with the Brown Act, Political Reform Act and Family Educational Records Protection Act.
Mr. Simmons has presented workshops for the California Charter Schools Association and Charter Schools Development Center. He also serves as a member of the governing board of Sierra Community College.