James Franklin Group, LLC

Our partnership with James Franklin Group, LLC

Dr. Thomas has been President of the James Franklin Group, LLC since 2008. She provides consultation, program design and facilitation on the following topics: teacher professional development, teacher evaluation, new teacher mentoring, curriculum design, instructional methodology, teacher leadership, and professional learning communities. She also develops and teaches parent and teacher reading-related and writing-related workshops: reading comprehension, vocabulary development, reading and writing at the K-3 levels. Dr. Thomas is the founder and leader of a Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) designed for girls in Grades 5-16+ who have demonstrated academic talent and leadership potential. The YWLA supports the development of a new generation of women leaders who will lead the charge to transform themselves, their communities, and the world around them; guides participants as they investigate an idea, passion, interest and design a plan of action, which is presented to members of the school and broader community; and conducts research around all components of the academy. The resulting research informs programming. Dr. Thomas has served in many roles in higher education. She was the Director of the Glazer and Lorton Writing Institute and an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Teaching and Learning for University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida from 2009 to 2014. At Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio she worked as an Assistant Professor and Director of Programs for Advanced Studies in Education and as an Adjunct Instructor from 2006 to 2007. While there she redesigned and developed a master’s program for practicing teachers in four program areas: reading, technology, special education and curriculum and instruction. She was an Adjunct Instructor at Kent State University in 2006 where she redesigned and taught an undergraduate level course entitled Inquiry into Professional Practice. During 2006, she also served as a proposal writer for a special dean funded project where she collaborated with the College of Education Dean, department chair and grant writer to develop a proposal for a leadership academy on campus. Dr. Thomas’ professional experiences in K-12 education include Elementary Principal of Our Lady of the Elms in Akron, Ohio from 2002 to 2004; Director of Instruction and Professional Development, Leadership Team Member, Technology & Learning Center Coordinator, and K-3 Computer Coordinator for Canfield Local Schools in Canfield, Ohio from 1995 to 2002; and Teacher of Reading and Language Arts Grade Seven at the Heritage Middle School in Westerville, Ohio from 1991 to 1995. Dr. Thomas is involved in several civic organizations in the Columbus area. Buckeye Leadership Fellows, Columbus, Ohio, 2019-present Board Member To support, in partnership with alumni and community leaders, unique transformative experiences for undergraduate students so they can achieve a competitive advantage in their post-graduate pursuits and remain deeply connected to the university. To support program development and ensure programs align with the program values: relationship, curiosity, engagement, leadership, diversity, intentionality and failure. Ruling Our Experiences (ROX), Columbus, Ohio, 2017-present Former Member, Development Committee – Responsible for raising funds to support the goals of the program. Currently serve on Host Committees. To equip girls with the knowledge and skills necessary to live healthy, independent, productive, and violence-free lives. To create generations of confident girls who can control their own relationships, experiences, and decisions. To provide innovative and evidence-based programming focused on the health, safety, education and empowerment of girls. WELD (Women for Economic and Leadership Development), Columbus, Ohio, 2015-present Member and Co-Chair of the Impact Committee To support brand awareness – economic impact, lifting up others. Represent WELD in the community – share the WELD story as well as my story. To support the impact of women’s economic development. The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Kent, Ohio, 2015-present The mission of the Women’s Fund is to transform the lives of women and girls by mobilizing the collective power and passion of all women working together. Grant Reader As a grant reader, I worked with a group of other readers to determine which applications support programs that promise real social change in our community– enhancing Economic Self-Sufficiency for women, Leadership for Women, and Life skills for Girls. Applications that support said programs were granted funding dollars. Dr. Thomas received a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State University in 2005, a Master of Arts from The Ohio State University in 1995, and a Bachelor of Arts (Summa cum Laude) from Capital University in 1991.