As an educator with an interdisciplinary background in (secondary and higher education), it is an honour for me to document, highlight and share with The Anguillian newspaper’s readers, the exemplary career of Principal Colin Thomas, a K-12 New York City public high school educator who has Anguillian and Nevisian roots. He has devoted his public service career to thirty (30) years within the NYC Department of Education, one of the world’s largest public education systems.
Colin is the son of Neville Thomas of George Hill, Anguilla – and his mother, Margaret I. Cole-Thomas, hails from the island of St. Kitts and Nevis. Born in England, he migrated as a teenager with his parents to Bronx County in New York City where he grew up.
He is graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York with a degree in English. In addition, he also holds advanced degrees in Education Adminstration and Supervision from Teachers College, Columbia University, as well as a Master’s in Special Education from City College of the City University of New York.
During 1991 – 1996, Colin served as a high school instructor at the James Baldwin Literacy Center where, in 1996, he was promoted to Assistant Principal. Since 1998, until the current time, he is the Princpal of Bronx Regional High School.
As a leading 21st Century education expert, he is committed to changing the lives of children and youth within the South Bronx communities – to empower their lives through the development of academic, career, leadership and social skills.
As an illustration of my point, during his thirty (30) years as an educator, he has singlehandedly championed and supported the academic and career development of countless students who were otherwise written off as potential dropouts. Colin said, “I refused to permit them to be written off. Instead, I supported and encouraged them to earn their diplomas and pursue higher education opportunities. As a result, many of them were the first in their families to attend and successfully complete college.”
Apart from promoting a culture of excellence in academic and career education among his students, one of Colin’s futuristic goals is to develop a leadership academy. In that regard, he has already spearheaded significant advocacy and activism – by mentoring paraprofessionals to become teachers, teachers and guidance counsellors to become assistant principals, and assistant principals to become principals. In one instance, a principal whom he mentored became a School Superintendent.
It has been said there are no good deeds that go unnoticed. Over the years, Colin has received several awards for supporting students, staff and parents. For instance, during 2006 he was recognised nationally by Metlife Foundation with the prestigious Ambassador in Education Award. More recently, he was awarded the Arts4Life Foundation Leadership Award for Human Rights by the Hon. Gale Brewer, former Borough President of Manhattan in New York City.
Yinka Stanford
