Data-Driven
Change Leader
Strategic
Collaborator
BIOGRAPHY
Eric Thomas, PhD
A native of Georgia, Eric’s formative years were split between Savannah and Cincinnati. After a brief dabble in the business sector at Proctor & Gamble and graduating from the University of Cincinnati, Eric began his educational career as a high school social studies teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools. During his 15+ years in the district, Eric was also a District Coordinator, Principal, Turnaround Principal Coach, and the Chief Innovation Officer.
As Chief Innovation Officer, reporting directly to the Superintendent, Eric led the redesign of the district’s teacher evaluation system, facilitated the development of new schools, launched a nationally regarded support model for at-risk males, and created an Aspiring Principal’s Academy to establish a pipeline of principals to lead turnaround efforts.
In 2012, Eric was recruited to the University of Virginia’s Partnership for Leaders in Education (PLE) School Turnaround Program. As the Chief Support Officer, he was tasked with leading the redesign of the program’s approach on how to support districts across the country as they worked to turnaround their lowest performing schools. In 2017, the Rand Corporation identified the PLE (a partnership between the Darden Business School and the Curry School of Education) as the most effective school improvement model in the country.
After nearly six years at the University of Virginia, Dr. Thomas was selected from a national search of nearly 60 candidates to become Georgia’s first Chief Turnaround Officer (Deputy Superintendent). Per legislation, Eric reported directly to the 14-member State Board of Education. He was tasked to create and execute an innovative support and accountability model to turnaround the state’s lowest-performing schools. As intended by the legislation, along with improving outcomes for targeted schools and districts, Eric’s team executed a design thinking approach to pilot innovations.
Many of the team’s innovations have been diffused statewide and now impacting improvement efforts throughout Georgia. For example, Eric partnered with the Georgia General Assembly to draft legislation to incentivize teachers to choose and remain at underperforming schools. With some slight amendments, that concept was voted into law. The Chief Turnaround Office’s focus on student health and wellness also become a statewide priority. Eric’s team also developed a data dashboard that was replicated and expanded.
Despite its incredible success, after the election of a new Governor, escalating political dynamics with the State Superintendent’s Office became a barrier for even greater success. The unpleasant politics forced Dr. Thomas to file a lawsuit; ultimately receiving a sizeable financial settlement, including compensatory damages, and a unanimously approved statement by the State Board of Education. After prior unsuccessful lobbying efforts to have the Chief Turnaround Office report to him or it be eliminated, the State Superintendent was finally successful after Dr. Thomas’ departure after the 2019-20 school year.
Eric’s practical experience is buttressed by his research on school and district transformation, with a focus on marginalized communities. Dr. Thomas has also been an adjunct university professor, consulted with state and federal education agencies, and has been a featured speaker; most often speaking on school and district transformation, supporting at-risk males, positive school culture, change leadership, and creating collaborative structures to promote collective impact.
Eric is married to the smartest person he knows, his wife Tamara, and they have one adult son.
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Accomplishments
Deputy Superintendent (Chief Turnaround Officer) CLICK FOR RESULTS VIDEO
Per state legislation, reported directly to the 14-member Georgia State Board of Education. Led a team of 25 individuals, responsible for developing and implementing an innovative, state-wide, strategic support model to transform and close achievement gaps in the state’s most underserved districts. Provided day-to-day guidance to eight districts (representing over 100,000 students) to establish district-level conditions to impact school-level turnaround. Through a design thinking approach, innovations executed in 20 targeted schools were scaled to impact districts and the overall statewide improvement strategy.
Accomplishments included: mic ratings from “F” to “D”
Improved overall climate & culture ratings by 38%; researchers express that climate and culture metrics are the best leading indicators of transformation taking place
Improved 70% of schools’ academic performance to highest levels ever achieved; including some ratings increasing from “F” to “C” and 15+ point gains
Reduced percentage of failing schools by 47%
Received a 4.6 overall rating (on 0-5 scale) on survey feedback from district and school partners that the Chief Turnaround Office’s partnership was effective or highly effective in achieving the school’s improvement goals – 100% of responses were effective or highly effective
Achieved greater improvement in academic and climate/culture ratings than comparable non-partner schools
Conceptualized and partnered with state legislature on new legislation to create a state-wide Turnaround Collaborative, designed to increase coordination and coherence with non-profits, state agencies, and higher education community
Developed a Health & Wellness Initiative to address students’ non-academic barriers and to support teacher wellness
Collaborated with each district to improve teacher recruitment and retention; teacher retention improved in 90% of partner schools. Talent initiatives included: 1) customized talent management plan for each district, 2) conceptualized a regional talent coordinator to partner with districts that did not have internal capacity, 3) partnerships with universities to host job fairs specifically for CTO schools
Developed partnerships with non-profits, local, and state agencies to coordinate academic and non-academic support efforts (Platinum Partners)
Assisted districts in writing federal grants, with 100% of partner districts receiving grants
The best predictor of future performance is past performance. Here is what Eric’s Supervisors have said:
Under Dr. Thomas’ leadership, through his departure at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, the Chief Turnaround Office positively impacted schools and districts. Furthermore, as intended by the legislation, innovations piloted in the Turnaround Office have the potential to impact school improvement efforts statewide.
Georgia State Board of Education
Any education organization would be hard-pressed to find a more inspirational and impactful leader thanks to his purpose-centered influence, problem-solving acumen, strategic thinking, ability to inspire and passion for students. Based on his diverse experiences and impressive leadership skills, Eric is well-positioned to galvanize people and resources towards unlocking student potential and achieving remarkable and lasting results.
William Robinson
Executive Director, Partnership for Leaders in Education (PLE)
Simply, Eric is goal-oriented, self-confident, strategic, data-driven, and cares deeply about kids. Eric showed excellent interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, and received exemplary reviews. I’m confident that he will surpass your expectations.
Mary Ronan
Superintendent (Former)
Cincinnati Public Schools
Videos
Dr. Thomas presents to the Georgia General Assembly’s Joint House and Senate Education Committee. He discusses the overarching vision and progress of the First Priority Act, the legis-lation that established the Chief Turnaround Office. He highlights the value of innovation and how the Chief Turnaround Office is poised to be the state’s innovation incubator.
Interview with Dr. Thomas following his keynote engagement at the Georgia School Boards Association Annual Conference. With over 1500 attendees, he gave an engaging and inspiring presentation on the need for the school board to promote and prioritize funding for school turnaround. Dr. Thomas also shared research on the district conditions necessary for success.
Resource video produced by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE). Dr. Thomas discussed his team’s task of execut ing Georgia’s innovative approach to “school turnaround” and the need to address the whole-child. Dr. Thomas was recognized at the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) annual event in Washington, DC.
Dr. Thomas is the featured guest on the Atlanta-based weekly talk show: “Let’s Talk it Out.” The focus of the conversation is Education Equity: Prioritizing the Student. Dr. Thomas details how the Chief Turnaround Office is tasked with cre-ating a strategic, innovative, and comprehensive model to address Georgia’s most underserved communities.
Cincinnati Public Schools’ M.O.R.E. Program is featured on local news station. As a high school principal in Cincinnati, Dr. Thomas launched the M.O.R.E. (Men, Organized, Respectful, Educated) Program to address the underperformance of young men at the school. When he became the Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Thomas was asked to scale the program districtwide.
Clip from the 2011 district kickoff of the M.O.R.E. Program. Acclaimed news anchor Curtis Fuller hosted and renowned county coroner Dr. O’Dell Owens was the featured speaker. He stressed how collective action was needed to save the lives of the city’s young men. Recognized nationally, in April 2021, M.O.R.E. celebrated 10 years. It is now in 39 of the district’s 60 schools.
How can I support your team?
Shift Consulting, LLC
Have you identified the SHIFT your team or organization needs? We are experts at assessing organizations to collaboratively determine the most impactful short and long-term priorities. We then guide your team toward targeted action steps to SHAPE THE SHIFT to ensure its effectiveness.
Educational Shifts
Dr. Thomas and a team of experts are available to support schools, districts, and other organizations as they identify and actualize the shifts needed to improve outcomes for students.
An evidence-based needs assessment anchors our conversation as we collaboratively identify the highest leverage priorities to achieve desired goals. Eric’s practical experiences, leading and supporting innovation and transformation across the country, and research are utilized to be expert partners to fulfill your team’s needs.
Customer Service Shifts
Greetings, first impressions, customer access, efficient workflows, and customer follow-up are all critical facets of the customer’s experience.
Post-Covid 19 (nearly) many people have moved online for the first time, or for new services. Situational Empathy and service recovery have never been more important. You may also be competing against the more immediate satisfaction of online delivery of products and services. We will guide your organization through these shifts.
Leadership Shifts
More than ever before, leadership matters! We specialize in supporting schools, school systems, and non-education sector organizations in creating structures to enhance the capacity of their leaders.
Our approach, frequently informed by Dr. Thomas’ attachment to the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School, offers our partners expert guidance on systems thinking, visioning, culture, organizational design, strategic planning, and change leadership.
Our signature support is 1:1 coaching. We partner with school and district leaders and non-education sector leaders to strengthen their leadership capacity within their context.
Safety Shifts
We offer full staff training, train-the-trainer programs, drug-free workplace initiatives, and can train your DER. If you are not sure if your program is what it should be, we will help you figure it out .
OSHA has recently changed its language on protecting workers in light of COVID-19. We can help you figure out what this means for your business. You’ll need to shift in order to protect your unvaccinated workers but the idea of mandatory vaccines is not going over well in the workplace.
Workplace First Aid, CPR, BLS, and ACLS training, at your site, are also available. We are also experts with virtual and hybrid options to ensure your team’s needs are met.
Talent Shifts
Tamara Thomas, M.Ed, a recognized HRCI leader and daily talent practitioner, leads non-education talent shift partnerships. Eric, and other education sector experts, lead talent projects with schools and school districts.
No matter the sector, our team will collaboratively diagnose your human capital strategy and provide guidance on how to improve the recruitment, selection, development, and retention of your most valued staff.
With Covid creating a new normal for the work environment, we are well-positioned to support your needs related to remote and hybrid work models as well.
Mobile Drug Testing
We can help you reduce time to hire, get drivers back on the road quickly, and help you meet your program requirements by coming to you.
We are knowledgeable about the various types of testing; Regulated and Non-Regu-lated. We can help you decide what type of testing you need and can bring the testing to you.
Marijuana laws are changing quickly. Are the policies in your organization up to date? Does your team know what the policy actually means in light of what they may be hearing about legalization? Drug use is up, what is your work place strategy? These are the critical questions we will explore.