Title: Senior Transition Coordinator for Special Education
Company: Leander ISD
Location: Cedar Park, Texas, United States
Denise M. Geiger, Senior Transition Coordinator for Special Education at Leander ISD, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Special Education.
Ms. Geiger has enjoyed a rewarding career in special education, marked by nearly four decades of service and innovation. Since 1999, she has served as the senior transition coordinator for special education at Leander Independent School District (ISD) in Cedar Park, Texas. In this capacity, Ms. Geiger oversees comprehensive systems that support individuals with disabilities from ages 3 to 22, ensuring sustainable outcomes and successful transitions into adulthood. Ms. Geiger’s responsibilities include training adults in real-life skills, fostering early development of self-determination and student voice, and increasing awareness of disabilities among students. She also supports specialized teams, such as the 18 to 22-year-old transition team and the vocational adjustment team at the high school level.
A hallmark of Ms. Geiger’s tenure has been the expansion of job coaching within the district. When she began, there was only one job coach. Under her leadership, that number has grown to over 40, reflecting her commitment to empowering staff and students. She has also collaborated with teachers to create and implement the Transition English 4 class across all six high schools in the district. This innovative course addresses transition topics using English language skills, specifically tailored for students with modified senior years aged 18 to 22. Additionally, Ms. Geiger provides ongoing training and skill development for job coaches and is the coordinator for deaf and hard-of-hearing services, leveraging her advanced academic background and the district’s needs.
Before her current role, Ms. Geiger served as a transition coordinator for special education at Leander ISD, where she began identifying gaps in classroom environments related to transition services. Her efforts led to significant recognition from the Texas Education Agency during a comprehensive compliance audit, resulting in her district being highlighted as a statewide model for transition practices. Ms. Geiger has consulted with over 50 districts to share best practices and continues to be sought after for guidance.
Ms. Geiger’s earlier career included more than five years as a high school teacher specializing in deaf education, following two years each at the middle school and elementary levels, beginning in 1987. Throughout these roles, Ms. Geiger observed evolving federal laws emphasizing meaningful transitions for individuals with disabilities and proactively pursued additional training to enhance her expertise.
Ms. Geiger’s academic foundation included earning a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Oklahoma State University in 1985 and a master’s degree in deaf education from Lamar University in 1987. Her educational journey was influenced by encouragement from both family and students, leading her to pursue advanced studies that have directly informed her innovative work in special education.
Among her professional affiliations, Ms. Geiger holds membership in the Division for Career and Transition Development and the Council for Exceptional Children, reflecting her standing as an expert in transition special education, parent liaison work, transition planning with families and improving outcomes for students transitioning to adult life. She is also a frequent presenter at the Texas Transition Conference, where she shares innovative practices that have set new standards across Texas.
Beyond her professional commitments, Ms. Geiger is civically engaged as an advisory board member at nonPareil Austin since 2018, an educator with Leander Education Excellence Foundation since 2023, and a board member of Paxton Patterson and Inspiring Access since 2025. She has also chaired the Christian emphasis committee at Twin Lakes Family YMCA since 2016 and has held leadership roles within the Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon on three occasions and as a Sunday school teacher.
Ms. Geiger’s dedication throughout her career has yielded tangible results, as many of her former students have achieved higher education degrees or successfully entered the workforce. Additionally, others have maintained long-term employment despite significant challenges. Ms. Geiger’s contributions to the field have been recognized through several honors, including the naming of a building in her honor in 2025, underscoring her lasting impact on the community.
In recognition of her success, Ms. Geiger has received a Sunshine Award for Outstanding Educator in the Area from Hill Country Community Ministries in 2024. She attributes her success to an unwavering drive for innovation, constantly seeking ways to streamline processes and support staff, as well as qualities such as kindness, attentive listening and resilience. Ms. Geiger also credits her parents’ faith and example for instilling values of hope, perseverance and service.
Looking ahead, Ms. Geiger plans to retire after 40 years of service but intends to continue contributing through consulting focused on transition services within school districts. She is committed to ensuring that the systems she helped build remain robust after her departure and looks forward to writing about her family’s history for future generations.
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