John & Deborah Simmons

John and Deborah Simmons are Shea (Simmons) Burden's parents, married for over 40 years and are retired educators.

Deborah Simmons

Deborah Simmons received a Bachelors Degree from Bowling Green State University in Education, where she received certifications in Learning Disabilities and Behavioral Disorders K-12 as well as Elementary Education 1-8. She also has a Masters Degree in Education from Ashland University. She spent the first 14 years of her teaching career in the East Cleveland City schools, of which 10 years were in special education for learning disabled students in grades first through sixth. The last four years, she was a third-grade regular education teacher.

Mrs. Simmons finished her teaching career in Bedford City Schools where she was a regular education teacher, a looping teacher, and an inclusion teacher. She taught third, fourth, and fifth grade until she retired after teaching thirty-five years. After retirement, she returned to Bedford Schools as a reading tutor for two years. She was also asked to return as a second-grade teacher, after an illness of a former colleague.

John Simmons

John Simmons, retired after 35 years of teaching at the high school level. He has a B.S. Degree in Business Education and Business Administration as well as a M.A. in Educational Administration. He is certified in Data Processing and Mathematics. He taught Business Education, Accounting, Information Technology, Advertising, Marketing, General Mathematics, and Algebra.

Mr. Simmons prepared a school building for North Central Evaluation and State Proficiency Testing. He has experience as an Electronic Grade Book Coordinator and Trainer, P.A.M. Resource Person, Acting Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director. He coached Boys and Girls Basketball on the Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels and was also an Assistant Wrestling Coach. He also worked as the Summer Youth Coordinator for Cuyahoga County.