He earned a master's degree in economics from Syracuse University, a bachelor's degree from SUNY at Potsdam, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from the University at Albany. Geer served as the superintendent of the Byron-Bergen school district in upstate New York. He also served five years as the superintendent's liaison to New York State Public High School Athletic Association and was a faculty member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents' superintendent development program.