Dr. Catherine A. Thomas
*email: catherine.thomas@ideapublicschools.org *phone: 956-373-8503
Qualifications
- Over twenty years teaching experience in mathematics in both public and private institutions.
- Twelve years of experience in school administration, three years as a high school principal, six years as a middle school principal, and three years as an assistant principal.
- Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, Masters is Educational Administration, BA in Mathematics.
- Extensive familiarity and experience working with students from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Experience
20011-present Math Intertentionist, IDEA College Prep, San Benito
Math Interventionist at IDEA College Prep, San Benito, TX. Responsibilities include working with struggling math students in grades 6-11 to help them mastery math objectives and to inspire and encourage them to become math mavens.
2008-2011 Founding Principal, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston
Principal at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston, TX. Responsibilities include hiring and supervising faculty, counselors and the Dean of Students; designing school policies with regards to all academic and student matters; working with faculty on curriculum & scheduling of all classes; overseeing discipline decisions, expulsion and admission of students; teaching math, managing the academic budget, working with parents and students, working with other directors and the school president to aid in all aspects of running and advancement of the institution; working with the Houston community and the district administration and school officials in the HISD/ the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Cristo Rey Network especially with regards to academic programs, standardized testing, federal funding, sports, etc.
2002-2008 Founding Principal, Guadalupe Regional Middle School
Principal at Guadalupe Regional Middle School, Brownsville, TX. Responsibilities include recruiting students, hiring and supervising faculty, preparing handbooks and policy information, designing curriculum & scheduling classes, discipline, teaching math, managing the academic budget, working with parents and students regarding future educational opportunities, serving as an ad hoc member of the various board committees, working with the Brownsville community and other schools in the BISD/ Diocese of Brownsville, and ensuring the on-going mission of the school.
1999-2002 Assistant Principal, Saint Joseph Academy
Assistant Principal of Academics at Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, TX. Responsibilities included supervision of faculty and instruction, monitoring curriculum for compliance with standards, preparing the master schedule & scheduling students into classes, teaching Algebra, and coordinating the process for student admission.
1997-1999 Teacher, Los Fresnos High School
Teacher at Los Fresnos High School, Los Fresnos, TX. Teaching assignment included Math (from Algebra I to Pre-Calculus) and SAT-prep (including both test prep for the SAT/ACT and working with students on college admissions applications, FAFSA, and other scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Also served as Junior class sponsor. Participated in “High Schools that Work” program.
1992-1997 Teacher, Saint Joseph Academy
Math teacher at Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, TX.
1991-1992 Teacher, Villa Maria High School
Math teacher at Villa Maria High School, Brownsville, TX.
1989-1991 Coordinator, Rio Grande Defense Committee Border Witness Program
Coordinator for Rio Grande Defense Committee, Harlingen, TX. Responsibilities included working with maquiladora workers, Valley farm workers, refugees, refugee organizations, and members of Valley Interfaith to help educate people about life on the Rio Grande border, hosting one-week information gathering delegations, grant writing and fund raising to support the Border Witness program, overseeing the budget, and writing press releases and lecturing to help publicize situations of injustice and abuse.
1988-1989 Teacher, Mercy High School
Religion teacher at Mercy High School in Louisville, KY. Sponsored “Youth for Peace”. Served on committee to integrate a mandatory service component into the curriculum.
1986-1988 Volunteer, Witness for Peace
Human rights worker with Witness for Peace, an ecumenical faith-based community of US citizens. Lived in a resettlement community in the war zones of Nicaragua. Documented human rights abuses against the civilian population during the war between the Sandinista government and the counterrevolutionary forces. Hosted delegations of US citizens who came to Nicaragua to learn about the impact of the war on the political, economical, and social reality of the country. Worked with other human rights organizations and members of the press corp. Also spent four months in the United Stated on a national lecture tour about my experiences in Nicaragua.
1984-1986 Teacher, Tuba City High School
Math teacher on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, AZ.
1983-1984 Recreational Therapist, Boys’ Village
Counseling intern & recreational therapist teaching horsemanship to teenage boys who were emotionally disturbed and placed in residential treatment at Boys’ Village, a residential facility in Smithville, OH.
Education
2003-2006 EdD in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Houston, Houston, TX
1994-1997 MEd in Education Administration, University of Texas--Brownsville, Brownsville, TX
1983-1984 Teaching Certificate in Secondary Math, Mount Union College, Alliance, OH
1979-1983 BA in Math, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
References: Available on request