Debbie Simmons champions trauma-informed early childhood education

By AI, Created 12:20 PM UTC, May 19, 2026, /AGP/ – Head Start Director and Beyond Time Outs co-founder Debbie Simmons is highlighting trauma-informed, relationship-based care in early childhood education. Her work spans North Carolina, Kentucky, and Colorado, with a new book and advanced training aimed at helping children, families, and educators respond to behavior with connection instead of punishment.

Why it matters: - Debbie Simmons is focused on early childhood education strategies that connect behavior support, family engagement, and child development. - Her work targets children from birth to age five, a stage where trauma-informed care and stable adult relationships can shape long-term outcomes. - Simmons is also pushing practical tools for caregivers and educators who want alternatives to punitive discipline.

What happened: - Debbie Simmons, a Head Start director in Hendersonville, North Carolina, was recognized by Influential Women. - Simmons also co-founded Beyond Time Outs, which promotes individualized, culturally responsive, evidence-based behavior support. - Simmons has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, behavioral support, and community-centered leadership. - Simmons leads a Head Start campus serving children from birth through age five and supports families with educational, developmental, and wellness services.

The details: - Simmons oversees daily program operations, multidisciplinary teams, staff development, and community partnerships in her Head Start role. - Her responsibilities include maintaining compliance with federal Head Start standards and state licensing requirements. - Simmons helps families connect with medical, dental, and mental health services. - Her approach emphasizes trauma-informed care, individualized coaching, and evidence-based behavioral support strategies. - Simmons is pursuing advanced training at Texas Christian University through the Trust-Based Relational Intervention, or TBRI, program. - Simmons is writing her first book, Through the Eyes of a Child: Understanding Behavior, Building Connection, Healing Together. - The book is designed to give caregivers, parents, and educators practical strategies they can use in everyday settings. - The book also aims to help adults understand a child’s internal experience during dysregulation, disconnection, stress, and emotional overwhelm. - Before her current North Carolina role, Simmons served as a Head Start center director in Kentucky. - Simmons previously owned and operated a childcare and preschool program in Colorado for nearly a decade. - Her preschool programs included academic foundations plus movement, language development, and the arts. - Simmons also emphasized family involvement and volunteer partnerships in those programs. - Simmons earned a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of the Cumberlands. - Simmons is completing a Master of Education in Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy in Early Childhood at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. - Her credentials include multiple Positive Parenting Program certifications, including Level 4 Group and the Positive Early Childhood Educators program, plus Conscious Discipline training.

Between the lines: - Simmons’ career reflects a shift in early childhood care toward relationship-based discipline and away from punishment-first approaches. - Her mix of program leadership, coaching, and parent education suggests a focus on turning theory into classroom and family practice. - The recognition also underscores growing attention to leaders who can bridge education, mental health, and community support. - Simmons said one of her guiding beliefs is to “Don’t get ready, stay ready.” - Simmons also said meaningful change in early childhood education depends on trust, shared vision, and strong professional partnerships. - Her values are faith, gratitude, and integrity.

What’s next: - Simmons is continuing TBRI training at Texas Christian University. - Simmons is completing her master’s degree while developing her book project. - Through Beyond Time Outs, Simmons will keep advocating for practices that help children, families, educators, and caregivers move beyond punitive responses.

The bottom line: - Debbie Simmons is positioning trauma-informed early childhood education as both a leadership model and a daily practice for supporting children and the adults around them. - More information is available through Debbie Simmons’ Influential Women profile.