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A resolution honoring the life and service of Kay Louise Snyder Simmons.
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WHEREAS, Kay Louise Snyder Simmons passed away on November 12, 2021 at the age of 72 after a longtime battle with progressive supranuclear palsy; and
WHEREAS, Simmons was born in Louisville, Kentucky and attended Assumption High School and Seneca High School, where she graduated in 1967; and
WHEREAS, Simmons earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from the University of Kentucky in 1971; and
WHEREAS, Simmons met the love of her life, her husband of 50 years, Keith Simmons, during her time at the University of Kentucky; and
WHEREAS, Simmons had a long and successful career working as a development officer at Vanderbilt Law School, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Medical Center (VUMC), Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Montgomery Bell Academy, University School of Nashville, and Metro Nashville Public Schools; and
WHEREAS, she was also the founding executive director of the Canby Robinson Society at VUMC and sat on the Dean's Council at Vanderbilt Law School; and
WHEREAS, although she was not an educator by profession, she was elected by the University School Board to serve as Interim Head of School for the 1990-1991 academic year; and
WHEREAS, it was at University School where Simmons found her passion for education and helping young people, which led her to become more involved in public education; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Simmons became the founding executive director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, now known as the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF); and
WHEREAS, at NPEF's 2022 Public Schools Hall of Fame event, they posthumously honored Simmons with the Nelson C. Andrews Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her incredible career and service to the people and schools of Nashville; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 and 2008, Simmons served as Special Assistant to the Director of Metro Nashvi...
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