About the Author
Dr. Brian S. Simmons has been happily married to Bonnie for the past 27 years. Bonnie
and Brian met at Cornerstone University their freshman year of college. Brian and
Bonnie are the parents of Jared a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, Drew, and
Lindi who are both students at Indiana Wesleyan University where Dr. Simmons
presently serves as the Vice President for University Relations and Aubrey who is a
student at Heritage Christian School where Dr. Simmons served as Superintendent for
nearly ten years prior to leaving to join Dr. Henry Smith, President, the University
Relations Team, and the Cabinet at IWU. Brian and Bonnie are living their dream of
lifetime Christian school ministry and “cradle to grave” Christian school education for
each of their four children.
After graduating from Cornerstone University, Dr. Simmons served as a teacher, coach,
and Superintendent of Elkhart Christian Academy. Dr. Simmons graduated from ECA in
1978, and he was the first ECA grad to return as a teacher. In 2008, Dr. Simmons
received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from ECA.
After ECA, Dr. Simmons accepted the call of God to become Superintendent
of Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis, Indiana. As Superintendent, he reported to
the Board of Directors, and worked collaboratively with an administrative team which
consisted of elementary, middle, and high school principals, elementary school and
middle school assistant principals, CFO, Director of Development, and Dean of Women.
Heritage is a Pre K-12 Christian School accredited By the Association of Christian
Schools, Int. and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. During his ten
years at Heritage the school grew in facilities through the construction of over $17million
of new and renovated buildings and grew in students from 1180 to 1600 students to
become the largest private school in Indiana. Dr. Simmons was involved in raising $10.0
million, overseeing a staff of 235, developing the school program, overseeing an annual
budget of $12.0 million, and especially enjoyed his role as spiritual leader of the school.
February 19, 2005, Dr. Simmons and a group of Christian school educators including
Sam Barfell, Jim Hopson, Phil Gelatt, Ray Sutton, Steve Valinet, John Leiberman, Brian
Dougherty, and David Patterson met to establish the Nehemiah Group Outreach Society,
Inc. (NGOS). This ministry, since its inception in 2005, has given away more that
$100,000 to further the cause of Christian education worldwide by establishing global
partnerships between stateside and international Christian schools with the belief that
these partnerships will be used by God to transform individual lives. To learn more about
NGOS, visit www.ngosonline.net.
Dr. Simmons also serves as a Trustee for Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis,
Indiana. Crossroads, led by President Charles Ware, is committed to racial reconciliation
and reaching an urban world for Christ.
Prior to moving to higher education, Dr. Simmons served a total of twenty-four years in
K-12 Christian school ministry, and he offers personal insights gained from his
experience over this past quarter of a century in the pages of this book. He has a BA in
mathematics and biology from Cornerstone University, a BS in Secondary Education
from Calvin College, a MS in Secondary Education from Indiana University at South
Bend, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration with a cognate in Educational
Technology from Ball State University.
Dr. Simmons is an adjunct professor in the graduate school at Columbia International
University, teaches in the graduate school at Indiana Wesleyan University and was the
commencement speaker for the December, 2007 commencement at Columbia
International University. He enjoys speaking opportunities and has presented over 40
workshops at ACSI conferences through the years.
Dr. Simmons has been attending the Paul Young Roundtable for more than a decade.
His life mission guides his day-to-day decision-making. It states, Brian Simmons exists
as a visionary builder to further the kingdom of God through Christian education,
teaching, and influencing others.