About Me

“I create safe, supportive, high-impact spaces where children and adults can learn, lead, and thrive.

Trusted by school districts, schools, families, and organizations to strengthen culture, build resilience, and elevate capacity for lasting success.”

Dee Thomas
Founder and CEO

Occupations:

• Educational Consultant (Trauma-Informed Care)
• Supervisor for Wright State University – College of Education and Human Services
• Leadership and Transformational Coach for women and educators
• Ohio Approved Instructor for Ohio Childcare Resource & Referral Association
• Qualified Education Service Provider (QESP) for Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Program
• High School Principal – 9th – 12th grade
• Academy Director – Kindergarten – 8th grade
• Reading Curriculum Director
• Founder and Tutor of Thomas Tutoring Services
• Independent Contractor for Varsity Tutors
• Tutor for all age levels, which includes adults and senior citizens
• Supervisor for elementary tutors
• Writing Coordinator
• Curriculum Coach
• Curriculum Specialist
• Testing Coordinator (State, District, End of Course Exams, and Cognitive Ability Tests)
• Sinclair Community College Instructor (English)
• Lead Teacher (Elementary)
• Elementary Teacher
• High School Special Education English Teacher
• District Representative for Special Education/Response To Intervention
• Student Council Advisor
• Student Council Presenter to New Advisors
• Trainer for Learning Environment, SFA Reading, Journey’s Reading, and Writing Curriculum
• National Youth Sports Camp Advisor/Counselor
• Job Training Partnership Act Youth Counselor
• Job Center Life Skills Teacher
• Site Manager For SES Tutoring Facilities
• Author and Creator of 3rd Grade Social Studies Curriculum on Schoology
• Presenter for Dayton Job Corps Center – “Adversities = Opportunities”
• Presenter for Jubilee Childcare “Kids Camp” (National Social Studies Information)
• Presenter for Jubilee Childcare Staff – “Professionalism”
• Presenter for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.  – “Hygiene with Teen Girls”
• Presenter for Ohio High School Graduation Seminar – “ACT Preparation”
• Presenter for Wright State University – “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact” (2020)
• Presenter for Wright State University – “Quick Tips for Teacher Candidates and First Year Teachers” (2021)
• Presenter for 4C for Children – “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact” (2020)
• Presenter for North College Hill City Schools – “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact” (2021 – present)
• Presenter for Dayton Public Schools – “Remember Your ‘Why’ As You Build A Strong Team” (2021)
• Presenter for Conscious Discipline with Excellence “Utilizing a Walk-Through Tool for Trauma Sensitive Classrooms” (2024), Tallahassee, Florida
• Presenter for Conscious Discipline Advanced Institute “Utilizing a Walk-Through Tool for Trauma Sensitive Classrooms” (2025), Navasota, Texas
• Presenter for Miami Valley Child Development Centers – “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact” (2024 – present)
• Presenter/Speaker for Innovative School Summit Conference – “Transforming Classroom Walkthroughs: Using Conscious Discipline & Trauma-Informed Strategies to Empower Educators” (2025), Nashville, Tennessee
• Speaker and Facilitator for NAACP – “Be a Part of the Solution – Disrupt the Cycle of Failure” (2023), Dayton, Ohio
• Speaker for Sinclair Community College – “The Shift: Empowering Parents to Overcome Educational Anxieties” (2020), Dayton, Ohio
• Keynote Speaker for Miami Valley Child Development Centers Inc. (2012), Dayton, Ohio
• Speaker for the International Tutoring and Teaching Symposium (2017), Phoenix, Arizona
• Special Guest Interview on The Tutor Outreach Blog Talk Radio Show (2018), Miami, Florida
• Special Guest Interview on The My K12 Career Show! (2022) Seattle, Washington
• Guest Speaker for Delta Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. (2019), Dayton, Ohio
• Panelist at Wright State University for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. – “A Forum on Racial Disparities in School Discipline” (2019), Dayton, Ohio
• Panelist for The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County – “Critical Discussion on Remote Learning” (2020), Dayton, Ohio
• Panelist for Sinclair Community College  -“Schools Out: Avoid Summer Slide and Summer Melt” (2021), Dayton, Ohio
• Panelist for American Sesh “Live” Black Enterprise Disruptor Summit with Pinky Cole (2023), Atlanta, Georgia
• Vendor for Sinclair’s Forward Re-Engagement Center and Montgomery County Workforce Development’s Academic Re-Engagement & Career Festival (2022), Dayton, Ohio
• Event Helper – Conscious Discipline – Connecting with Children Who Are Hard to Reach – Chicago, Illinois (2023)
• Event Helper – Conscious Discipline – Elevate – Embrace Possibilities – Las Vegas, Nevada (2024)

Education:

• Wright State University – Bachelor of Arts in English
• University of Dayton – Master of Science in Teaching
• University of Dayton – Educational Leadership and Supervision
• University of Dayton – Superintendency
• Institute for Children’s Literature
• Wittenberg University
• Colorado State University-Pueblo – Character Education
• Indiana University – Trauma-Informed Care Certificate

Certifications/Awards:

• Licensed Elementary Education Teacher
• Licensed Middle School Education Teacher
• Licensed Elementary Principal
• Licensed Middle School Principal
• Licensed High School Principal
• Licensed School Superintendent
• Certified for OTES (Ohio Teacher Evaluation System)
• Certified City of Dayton AAA Vendor – eligible for city contracts
• Certified Mentor Partner Agency – The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County
• Certified Mental Health First Aid USA
• Certified Trauma-Informed Care
• Ohio Approved Childcare Resource & Referral Association Instructor for Ohio Healthy Program
• Outstanding Certified Mentor Partner Award – The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County – March 2022
• Qualified Education Service Provider (QESP) for Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Program – (2023)
• Business of The Year Honoree – Minority-Owned Business – Dayton Business Journal – (November 2023)
• State-recognized leader honored by the Ohio General Assembly for excellence and community impact (2023)
• John McManus, Montgomery County Treasurer, Congratulatory Letter for Business of The Year Honoree (2023)
• Honored Listee from Marquis Who’s Who (2024)
• Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics Winner (2024)
• Conscious Discipline Scholarship Recipient for the Advanced Institute (2025)

Organizations:

• Member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated
• National Council For Mental Wellbeing
• ForbesBLK
• Member of the Ohio Association Of Secondary School Administrators
• Certified Partner with The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County
• Verified Instructor for Ohio Childcare Resource & Referral Association
• Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment Educational (ACE) Savings Account Program
• Member of the Handshake App for recruiting college students to tutor
• Council Member for Kent State University (2022 – 2023)
• Montgomery County Educational Service Center Business Advisory Council Educator Engagement Subcommittee (2024 – present)
• Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics Committee Member (2024 – present)
• Partners with Miami Valley Child Development Centers (2024 – present)

Innovations:

• Created a successful Reading Tutoring Program (Data compiled from DIBELS, SRI, and monthly Benchmarks).
• Launched DIBELS testing with the immense success of teaching teachers how to read the data and create data spreadsheets.
• Recognized for “Outstanding First Year” of implementing the Open Court Reading and Journeys curriculum.
• Started a new charter school without desks, chairs, and a curriculum but created a curriculum for teachers.
• Wrote and published the Mission Statement for The Leadership Academies.
• Designed and organized the Reading Curriculum book rooms that had been out of commission for six years in two different school buildings.
• Introduced and enforced the use of Lexile numbers for students to read and for teachers to implement into classwork, group work, and homework.
• Lead teacher of two-house teams with twelve teachers and 360 students.
• Exceeded the state requirement consecutively on the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Ohio reading and writing tests.
• Restructured and implemented testing protocols for all state-mandated tests and end-of-course exams for 2,000 students.
• Achieved End of Course Improvement Indicator on School Report Card.
• Trained teachers in Ohio, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona on how to teach and embed Reading and Writing across all core subjects.
• Developed and created the process of documenting and using an Improvement Plan and Professional Growth Plan at the Leadership Academy.
• Produced and created a Black History Program to include the Community, Sororities, and Fraternities – DVD available.
• Raised over $1,000 through a talent show for students to go on field trips.
• Involved over 500 Dayton View Community stakeholders in a school carnival for student enrollment.
• Introduced and partnered with Cedarville University Dean for student teaching and field experiences in urban schools.

Publications:

• Featured in Miami Valley Child Development Centers’ Newsletter (2024)
• Featured in The Dayton Daily News (Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics Winner ) (2024)
• Featured in The Dayton Business Journal (Dance and Tutoring Collaboration ) (2024)
• Featured in The Dayton Business Journal (Business of The Year – Minority-Owned Business ) (2023)
• Featured on American Sesh “Live” Black Enterprise Disruptor Summit with Pinky Cole (2023), Atlanta, Georgia
• Featured in The Dayton Business Journal (10 Greater Dayton Startups to Watch) (2023)
• Featured in The Dayton Business Journal (Dayton Entrepreneur – National Pilot Show) (2023)
• Featured in Launch Dayton Community Stories (Dee Helps Her Community Overcome Trauma) (2023)
• Featured in Launch Dayton Community Stories (Dayton Entrepreneur – National Pilot Show) (2023)
• Featured in The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County Annual Report (2022)
• Writer and Team Member for Teacher to Teacher Magazine (2020)
• Featured in The Dayton Weekly Newspaper (2006 and 2010)
• Featured on the cover of the Wright State University Office of Admissions Brochure
• Featured on the cover of The Leadership Academy’s Parent Information Brochure
• Starred in a Commercial For The Leadership Academies
• Guest on TBN – Indiana to discuss “Education Today” (Video on Media Tab)
• News Interview on CNN – Washington DC to discuss “Education As The Most Important Issue Today”
• Special Guest on The Tutor Outreach Radio Show. “Expanding Your Sphere of Influence in Tutoring” https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1391920691
• Special Guest Interview on The My K12 Career Show! “My Journey” https://youtu.be/gw2Pjo_Oz3s

Professional Developments:

• Understanding Trauma and Its Impact (2020 – present)
• Trauma-Informed Self-Care Strategies (2025 – present)
• INSPIRE (Igniting Educators to be Leaders of Tomorrow) (2023)
• Conscious Discipline Advanced Institute – Navasota, Texas (2025)
• Conscious Discipline – Connecting with Children Who Are Hard to Reach – Chicago, Illinois (2023)
• Conscious Discipline Summer Institute – Orlando, Florida (2023)
• Ohio Healthy Programs (2023 – present)
• Trauma-Informed Care Strategies – Wright State University – Summer Equity Institute (2022)
• Trauma-Informed Teaching – Wright State University (2022)
• Miami Valley Women’s Leadership Network (2009, 2010, and 2020)
• Celebrating Women in Leadership (2010)
• The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County Partner Certification Training (2020)
• Remember Your “Why” As You Build A Strong Team (2021)
• Quick Tips for Teacher Candidates and First-Year Teachers (2021)
• Buckeye Association of School Administrators (2008)
• Child Outcome Summary (COS) – Preschool Special Education Tool
• Ready for Kindergarten Ohio – Early Learning Assessment
• Behavior Support Team/Best Practices
• Why Kids Misbehave
• Learning Force Assessment (Curriculum)
• Dealing With the Angry Child
• Managing Emotions in the Workplace
• Mentoring to Facilitate Success
• Team Building
• Ruby Payne
• Crisis Prevention Intervention
• Emotions in the Workplace
• Professionalism
• Crisis Management
• Learning Environment (“The Importance of Bulletin Boards” and “Walls That Talk”)
• Focus Walks for Classroom Environment and Teacher Feedback
• Health Awareness
• Self-Development
• Special Education Modifications/Writing
• Heimlich Maneuver
• Open Court Reading Implementation
• Classroom Management
• Creating a Culture of Literature
• DIBELS (RTI)
• Lexia (RTI)
• ALEKS (RTI)
• AIMS web (RTI)
• Achieve 3000 (RTI)
• i-Ready
• Pathwise Training for Mentors
• Writing Curriculum Coordinator
• Lead Teacher Conference
• The Meaning of Culture in Accelerating Literacy Development in Elementary Schools
• Instructional Implementation Review
• Schlechty School Design Team
• Curriculum and Assessments
• Marzano’s Instructional Strategies
• Meaningful Sentences Training
• Direct Instruction
• America’s Choice
• Journey’s Reading Curriculum
• Success For All
• Data Director
• Next Navigator
• Common Core State Standards
• STARS
• Formative Instructional Practices – Battelle For Kids (Ohio)
• Schoology
• Ohio Improvement Process/Teacher-Based Teams
• PARCC Online Assessments
• AIR Online Assessments
• OTES training (certified to evaluate in the state of OHIO)
• SLO evaluator
• NWEA and MAP

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