About Me

“I believe in excellence; therefore, I embrace and impact the mind, body, and soul of EACH LIFE that I anchor towards excellence so that I can make a difference.”

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 Miami Valley Child Development Centers – “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact” (2024 – present)
• 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

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 Vendor for the City of Dayton
• Certified Mentor Partner Agency – The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County
• Certified Mental Health First Aid USA
• 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)
• The General Assembly of The State of Ohio House of Representatives Tribute Letter for Business of The Year Honoree (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)

Organizations:

• Member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated
• National Council For Mental Wellbeing
• ForbesBLK
• Member of 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)
• Better Business Bureau Torch Award For Ethics Committee Member (2024)

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 Open Court Reading and Journeys curriculum.
• Started a new charter school without desks, chairs, and curriculum but created a curriculum for teachers.
• Wrote and published the Mission Statement for The Leadership Academies.
• Designed and organized 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 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 Wright State University Office of Admission Brochure
• Featured on the cover of The Leadership Academies 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)
• INSPIRE (Igniting Educators to be Leaders of Tomorrow) (2023)
• 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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