For 25 years, Simone Duncan has been a cornerstone of educational excellence in Irvington, New Jersey. From her early days as a substitute teacher to her current role as a dedicated school psychologist, Simone’s career is a testament to resilience, passion, and an unwavering commitment to students, families, and colleagues.
The Beginning: A Purpose Ignited
Simone’s story began in the year 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a heart eager to serve. Stepping into a 6th-grade-only school as a substitute teacher, she quickly found her calling. Determined to stay in the classroom, Simone pursued an alternate route teaching program, balancing her love for education with the rigorous process of obtaining her teaching certification.
Her early years were marked by a versatility that would become her trademark. From teaching middle school math to transitioning into 8th-grade English Language Arts, Simone’s classrooms were vibrant hubs of learning, where she connected deeply with her students. Reflecting on this time, Simone describes it as “the most exciting and rewarding” period of her teaching career—a sentiment that fueled her continued growth.
A Journey into School Psychology
While igniting a love of learning in her students, Simone was also nurturing her own academic ambitions. Enrolling in a Master’s program in Educational Psychology, she began laying the groundwork for what would become a lifelong specialization in school psychology.
Her dedication led to a pivotal sabbatical in her ninth year, where she completed a 1,200-hour externship at Hillside Public Schools. Here, she deepened her understanding of student behavior, cognitive development, and counseling techniques, particularly at the high school level. By the time she returned to Irvington, Simone was ready to make an even greater impact, serving as both a preschool and high school school psychologist.
Leading Beyond the Classroom
Simone’s journey is defined not just by her service but by her leadership. During her 14th and 15th years, she earned a second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. This accomplishment propelled her into the role of District Supervisor of Special Education Services, where she managed programming across 13 schools. Leading a vast team of educators, specialists, and therapists, Simone ensured that students with diverse needs received the support and opportunities they deserved.
While the role came with challenges, it showcased Simone’s ability to bring people together, solve problems, and navigate the complexities of special education compliance with grace and determination.
Returning to Her Roots: School Psychology at Its Core
Over the past six years, Simone has returned to the front lines of student support as a high school-level school psychologist. Here, her role is as multifaceted as her career. She administers cognitive and behavioral assessments, facilitates IEP meetings, and consults with teachers to create learning environments that help students thrive. Beyond academics, Simone provides vital counseling services and connects families to resources that prepare students for adult life.
Her work extends far beyond test scores or classroom behavior; it’s about empowering students to realize their full potential, advocating for their unique needs, and preparing them for brighter futures.
Certifications & Commitment to Excellence
Simone’s commitment to professional growth is evident in her impressive list of New Jersey certifications: Teacher, School Psychologist, Instructional Supervisor, and a Principal Certificate of Eligibility. Each milestone represents her readiness to embrace new opportunities and lead with purpose.
A Legacy of Service and Impact
As Simone Duncan celebrates 25 years in education, her journey is a shining example of dedication, leadership, and an unwavering belief in the power of education. She has touched thousands of lives, worked tirelessly to create equitable learning environments, and set the standard for what it means to serve with heart and purpose.
Her story is not just about the past but about the future—a future where Simone will undoubtedly continue to empower students, support families, and inspire her colleagues.
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Simone Duncan will be honored with the Trailblazer in Special Education Award at the Seven Degrees Brunch Gala on February 15th, 2025, in West Orange, New Jersey. This well-deserved accolade highlights her tireless advocacy, innovative leadership, and lasting impact on the field of special education.
Purchase your tickets to the gala here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-seven-degrees-brunch-gala-tickets-1027669967537?aff=oddtdtcreator
Here’s to Simone Duncan: an educator, a leader, and a force for change in the lives of those she serves.
“The greatest gift of education is the ability to uplift others—and Simone Duncan embodies that gift every day.”
Congratulations Simone! Thank you for your dedication and commitment to children and their well being. Every child deserves the best that those in education has to offer. Many blessings as you continue to do what you love 🍎
Thank you, Ms. Whitaker! I really appreciate this sentiment. 🙏🏽✨🤓 It takes a phenomenal educator to be able to recognize one, right? I hope you’re doing well.
Wow! I was there at the genesis of the 25 years. What an honor to have known you and worked alongside you for nearly two decades! Your IEP meetings were always productive, beneficial to the students, parents and teachers. Your Best Practices in evidence reflected your set of beliefs; mostly matched your faith. I wish you another 25 years of contribution in the field of Special Education.
Congratulations, Ms. Duncan! 🙏🏿❤️❤️
Dr. Chaaaaaaarles!!! Where has the time gone? 🥰✨ It was always a pleasure working with you. May God continue to bless and keep you always. Oh and I’m right behind you… lol with the doctorate and the retirement. lol😄
Wow! This is so well deserved! Simone, you are an incredible woman, and I’m truly honored to have experienced and been under your leadership. Not only are you an outstanding educator, but you are also an extraordinary woman. The education system won’t be the same without you! Cheers to my forever mentor!
So proud of you Duncan!!! You just have one more milestone to go..
Beckford 🥰✨, thank you for always being there. You’ve been with me since the beginning of my career journey, and you know how much I appreciate you. A million thank yous for simply letting me be me. ❤️✨
Congratulations, Simone. I am so proud of you and all that you do for our students. I am honored to work with you everyday. Be blessed and keep pursuing
I appreciate you, Dr. crooks (Lystrea ☺️✨) It’s a pleasure to work with someone who also keeps God at the center of all she does. We go hard for our students, whether we get the accolades or not. Thanks for always supporting me.
Simone we’re so proud of the young woman that you’ve become. Your dedication to God and the path that He has called you to. Your dedication love for the children that you serve, your commitment to justice, being a voice for children who have no voice. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Here’s to the next 25 years. There’s much more to come. May God continue to give you wisdom, strength and strategy. We love you 🥰 o mom
Aaaaaw! Thank you, Mommy. I am a good human being bc I keep God at the center of what I do. You and daddy taught me how to do that very early in my life, and I am so grateful. 🥰✨ I love you, too. ❤️
Simone, none of this surprises me. You have always been a wonderful caring soul. Congratulations..
Hello Gay,
It’s been a long time. That you so much for the congrats and the vote of confidence. :-). I appreciate it.
Best Regards,
Congratulations Ms. Duncan on your 25 years of service in education. I remember when you first walked into our 6th grade classroom as our teacher at University Six. You were always kind to us and showed up to work everyday with a smile on your face. I’ll always appreciate your kindness throughout the years. Thank you for guiding me and playing a role in my position here at the high school. It is truly a pleasure to have been your student and now your colleague. I continue to learn from you and remain inspired by how positive and vibrant you are when you walk into work, you always walk into the building with that big beautiful smile of yours ready to conquer the day and advocate for your students. I can go on for days about what an incredible woman and educator you are. I thank you for being the teacher that always showed up for us, cared for us, and believed in us. May God continue to bless you always and may He continue to guide you.
Congratulations Simone. I am so proud of you and thank you for all your dedication and hard work
Noel, thank you for your kind words words. ☺️✨💐 It means alot that you are proud of me. We love children, and those with special needs have quite the special place in our hearts. YCS trained us well, right?
From camping in the woods, chasing runaway children before the bears found them 👀 😆 lol. To running a residence halls and making sure kids who others had given up on had everything they needed to feel safe and secure, we gave children what their parents couldn’t at that point in time. May God continue to bless us for that. 🙏🏽✨❤️
Okay, so I’m officially crying! 🥲 I am so very proooooooud of you, Dr. Bolivar. 🤩 You are a superstar. It is now you who inspires me to be better. You are such a resource to your students. It is important to them to see leaders who look like them and sound like them and who have a vested interest in their successes bc you were once just like them. I love everything about you becoming the teacher that you were born to be in the community that poured into you. You’re a great wife and a great mommy and a great human. 🥰✨ Keep up
The work that matters.
This is amazing and it could not happen to anyone more deserving! I have known Simone for 18 years working in Special Education within two of my careers. I have learned so much from Simone throughout these years. Simone goes above and beyond for her children and will assist anyone who shows that they are willing to do the same. I recall her taking a pay cut at once just to be there for a broader amount of Special Education scholars. Her actions have always come with a purpose and clear explanations for any decisions/actions she has displayed. I will forever look up to Simone Duncan and pray as well as I know she will always stay blessed!
Congratulations Simone, you totally ROCK!!!
25 years what a phenomenal milestone. Congratulations now that’s steadfast commitment and unwavering passion. From the moment I met you I knew you were an exceptional individual with your distinctive style and poise. you made excellence look effortless. I deeply admire you please keep shining brightly for another 25 years. You are truly unstoppable
Simone Duncan… aka MYMonieLove
25 years Lady!!!! ☆☆☆☆☆
Outstanding ♡♡♡♡
I have loved, respected and admired you from day one.
We clicked and the rest is Herstory!!♡♡♡🚺
I’m so proud to call you my dear friend,my co-worker and on some days my voice of reason…
The work you have done and will continue to do,
is nothing short of a miracle!
Keep Motivating all that surround you!
Keep Shinning So Bright 💛✨️
The Best is yet to come✅️‼️‼️‼️‼️
Still crying. I love you, too, Jenny Jen. Thanks for your friendship and your kind words. YCS gave as an amazing opportunity to love on children that were not our own. To care for them like we’d birthed them ourselves. Now we’re THE BEST aunties ever. See how that works?!? Lol 😆
What’s not in my bio is that my experience at Avenel, going to school with the kids from Davis House was my first taste of being a teacher. Bc I went there every day, I was exposed to what it was like to teach children with special learning and behavioral needs. It was this experience that made me seek out what it would take for me to become a substitute teacher. Thank you for being a part of my journey. 🙏🏽✨
Chaaaaaark, walk with me down memory lane for a second… you know there was a time at the earliest point in my career when I looked up to you so much right? ☺️✨ I still do when I think about those early years. You were a teacher’s aide in the classroom at Avenel school in the summer of 2000/2001.
I watched you. You could de-escalated any angry child and make them forget why they were mad in the first place. That’s a skill that cannot be taught. Over the years since then I’ve watched you experience joys and pains, birthdays, weddings, births and passings with a kind of grace that is unmatched.
I’ve watched you take foster children into your home, some of them students that I had in common with you, and nurtured and raised them like your own. YCS did us good for a great foundation for us. Love you, Chark. ❤️🥰 And love that you took the time to leave me this message. The BEST is yet to come for us both.
I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor than Ms. Duncan. She wasn’t just my 8th grade English teacher—she was someone who truly saw me, encouraged me, and continued to be there for me long after I left her classroom. Her passion for literature was contagious, but what really made her special was the way she believed in her students. I still remember her tough but loving approach and how much it meant to me at the time.
What makes her even more incredible is that she never stopped being my teacher. All through high school, college, and beyond, she’s checked in, offered advice, and reminded me of my own strength when I needed it most. I’m so grateful for her kindness, her guidance, and the impact she’s had on my life. She’s one of those rare teachers you never forget—because she never forgets about you.
Congratulations, Ms. Duncan, on your 25 years in education!! What an inspiration you are to everyone who has the pleasure of knowing you! You are the educator I’ve always aspired to be. You made me feel like I could do anything! As one of your 8th grade ELA students you instilled in me the importance of my power, my right to an education and all the possibilities that lie ahead. You always held me to the highest standards, and for that I am forever grateful. You saw in me what I had yet to see in myself. You never lost hope in me and stayed in contact with me well beyond my 8th grade year. You became apart of my family! Bringing each other back Channa to class from our trips back home is one of my favorite core memories! Trini to de bone! You encouraged me not just with your words of wisdom, but by leading by example. It is such an honor to have crossed paths with you and continuing on this journey with you all these years later. Congratulations on your honor, it is well deserved ♥️
It is an absolute honor to celebrate Ms. Duncan on this incredible milestone—25 years in education! She has been an inspiration and a guiding light in my journey, both as a student and as a professional.
In 2001, as my 7th-grade teacher, she encouraged me to maximize my learning potential and instilled in me a love for education. Years later, when I began my career as a special education math teacher, she was there once again—this time as a school psychologist—helping me navigate the challenges of working with special needs students. She taught me invaluable strategies that shaped my teaching approach.
Her support didn’t stop there. When she became my supervisor in the special education department, she continued to mentor me as I worked toward my Students with Disabilities certification. Her guidance played a crucial role in my professional growth, and I am forever grateful for the wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support she has provided throughout my journey.
Beyond the classroom and workplace, she has been a mentor and a source of inspiration in my life. Her compassion, dedication, and commitment to education and to people are truly remarkable.
Thank you, Ms. Duncan, for everything—you have made an everlasting impact on my life, and I will always be grateful!
With appreciation and gratitude.
Congratulations!
Your dedication and perseverance, when it comes to what you do is just unmatched. You have always been eager to provide support to anyone who needs it. At one point I was one of those people and for that I will be forever grateful. I am so happy you are receiving your flowers because you definitely deserve them.
Love you and wish you nothing but success on your continued Journey.