Donna Hudson-Hamilton, a longtime advocate for early childhood education, is retiring after 34 years of service. As the director of Early Childhood Connections in Hays, she has spent her career championing the role of parents in education and strengthening early childhood programs in the community.
Her passion for education began early. Hudson-Hamilton said she was inspired by her mother’s struggles to advocate for her brother, who had special needs. Seeing her mother leave school meetings in tears made Hudson-Hamilton determined to find a better way.
“I always thought there has to be a better way to do this,” she said.
After earning a degree in school psychology from Fort Hays State University, Hudson-Hamilton began her career as a child psychologist, working in early childhood for 12 years. She then became director of Early Childhood for USD 489, where she served for 22 years.
Throughout her career, she emphasized the importance of including parents in the education process.
“Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers,” she said. “If we want to make real change, we have to involve them.”
Hudson-Hamilton has also been an active member of the Ellis County Child Care Task Force since its creation. Fellow task force member Dana Stanton nominated her for the May Child Care Champion Award, calling her a tireless supporter of early childhood services.
“For the past 30 years, Donna has been a champion for early childhood in our community and beyond,” Stanton said. “She played a key role in developing the USD 489 Early Head Start Child Care Center. Her expertise and willingness to serve on various committees have made a lasting impact.”
Hudson-Hamilton said she knew early on that working with young children was the right fit for her.
“I just fell in love with it,” she said. “This is the age where you can really make a difference.”
Studies show that by age three, 80% of a child’s brain is developed, and by age five, 90% is developed. Hudson-Hamilton said this makes early childhood education crucial. At the center, staff work with teachers to identify areas where children may need extra support before starting kindergarten. In recent years, they’ve focused on helping children build fine motor skills, which have declined as screen time has increased.
Early child care also plays a vital role in developing social skills, she said.
“Kindergarten teachers often say they’d rather have a child who can follow directions, play with others, and stay focused than one who simply knows their ABCs,” she said.
One of Hudson-Hamilton’s proudest achievements is helping to establish the Early Childhood Complex. In 2019, USD 489 renovated a building on 13th Street and moved from its former location at Washington School.
“Now we’re all in one place where we can better support each other,” she said.
Over the years, Hudson-Hamilton has received many honors. This spring, she was named the Kansas Head Start Association’s State Children’s Champion for 2025. In 2013, she received the National Head Start Director of the Year award. She also served as president of the Kansas Head Start Association from 2007 to 2009.
Her service includes involvement with numerous local, state, and national organizations, such as:
- Heartland Community Foundation Board
- Kansas Association of Infant Mental Health
- United Methodist Health Ministry Fund
- Mental Health Advisory Committee
- United Way of Ellis County
- KHSA (Kansas Head Start Association)
- PACT (Parents and Children Together)
- HICC (Hays Interagency Coordinating Council)
- Head Start Collaboration Council
Despite the accolades, Hudson-Hamilton said her most rewarding moments are the small, everyday victories.
“It’s seeing the kids grow and learn, watching parents achieve goals, or hearing great ideas from parents on our policy council,” she said. “Those are the things that fill my heart.”
She said the COVID-19 pandemic helped many people recognize the importance of early child care providers.
“My hope is that people continue to see early childhood workers — whether they’re in a Head Start center or running a home daycare — as professionals,” she said. “They’re laying the foundation for learning and building the relationships children need for healthy brain development.”
Hudson-Hamilton praised the local task force for raising awareness about the importance of child care and said she feels grateful for her team.
“We really work as a school family, and I’ve had that support throughout my career,” she said.
She’s also seen many former students grow up to achieve great things.
“We recently had a student who did well at the state track meet, and we remembered when they were in our classroom,” she said. “Or we’ll see a student win a spelling bee. It’s amazing to see what they go on to do.”
The Kansas Head Start Association offers scholarships to high school seniors who attended Head Start programs, and Hays students have received the award for the past two years.
Still, Hudson-Hamilton said her proudest accomplishment is her family. She has two daughters, ages 22 and 24, who are both pursuing careers in education. One teaches early childhood in Russell, and the other works as a school psychologist in the Oakley co-op.
At age 59, Hudson-Hamilton is still considering her next steps. She plans to continue writing grants for local agencies and is also exploring remote opportunities in school psychology or technology.
