Dr. Thomas has over 40 years of educational experience. She retired from the South Carolina public school system having served eighteen years as a general and special education teacher, nine years as a director of special education for two school districts, and three years at the South Carolina Department of Education serving as the project director for the State Improvement Grant.
Dr. Thomas spent one year at Awsaj Academy in Doha, Qatar, serving as the Head of Teaching and Learning to establish evidence-based instructional practices and positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS). She served as the Head of Glenforest School, a private school for students with disabilities needing intensive support. In 2017 she worked on a project with the National Institute for Direct Instruction in Australia providing consultation to schools utilizing Direct Instruction programs.
She is an adjunct professor in special education at the University of South Carolina. Her areas of interest include effective instruction, positive behavior intervention and support, and special education leadership. Dr. Thomas was a peer reviewer for Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. She was a contributing author in the Handbook of Leadership and Administration for Special Education. She served on the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children board for thirteen years.
Dr. Thomas serves as president of the South Carolina Association for Positive Behavior Support and served as the state coordinator for the National Center on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. She is a member of the Association for Positive Behavior Support State Leaders’ Network. She consults with the state department, districts, and schools to support the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support using positive behavior support, evidence-based instructional strategies, and team-initiated problem-solving. She also works with school Districts to support effective special education programs and policies.
Her greatest achievement is being a wife, mother, and grandmother to seven grandchildren.
