Carnetta Thomas
Thomas learned in early January that she had met all requirements to earn her doctorate in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She received her degree through the University of Phoenix with most work done online.
“I am really happy about this,” Thomas said. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It was not easy at all.”
Like most educators who seek their doctorate, Thomas was working full time when she began work for the degree in January of 2011. During the almost five-year period to complete the required work, Thomas became assistant principal for a year at Pinkston Street and was then assistant principal at Zeb Vance Elementary for two years before becoming the principal at L.B. Yancey this school year.
Her dissertation was about parent involvement in public schools with a focus on the need to develop partnerships with parents. Thomas interviewed 10 parents at Zeb Vance Elementary to do her research.
“I focused mostly on low-performing Title 1 schools and learned that we have to inform our parents,” Thomas added. “We have to look at our parents as a partnership for our schools. We have to communicate with one another. Many of our parents really don’t know what to do. We also have to make them feel warm and welcomed!”
Thomas also stated she received lots of support from colleagues, including Valerie Hairston, counselor at Zeb Vance, who was “a great reader,” and Dr. Jacqueline Crosson at Pinkston Street, who went through the doctoral process at the same time.
“I received so much positive support,” she noted.