Jackson Free Press

Laketia Marshall-Thomas never intended to be a teacher. She went to Tougaloo College and then to Clark Atlanta University, where she graduated with a master's degree in organic chemistry. She planned to be a chemist, but a professor from Tougaloo College recommended her for a position teaching 7th grade math.

To her surprise, Marshall-Thomas fell in love with teaching. She took a year off to pursue a career as a chemist, but soon decided that was not what she wanted after all and returned to education. Now she is in her fourteenth year with Jackson Public Schools--10 years of teaching and four years as an administrator.

The Jackson Public School Board voted last week to promote Marshall-Thomas from assistant principal at Lanier High School to principal at Provine High School. As principal at Provine next year, Marshall-Thomas said she wants to ensure that the school is doing everything it possibly can to help students be successful.

"Our goal is to graduate everyone," she said, adding that she wants to focus on academics, but wants to encourage support from others as well. "We want to ensure this is a collaborative effort, all three of us combined-- parents, community and school."

Marshall Thomas has lived in Bolton for most of her life. She lives there now with her husband, Jonathan Thomas Sr., and her two sons, Jonathan Jr., 15, and Jonah, 11.

Previous Comments

ID

164232

Comment

Awesome, passionate, creative, supportive are just few of the adjectives to describe Mrs. Thomas. She will be sorely missed at 833. Provine is very lucky, I just hate Lanier lost her but she will do terrific things at Provine. She was instrumental in helping my daughter land one of her college scholarships.

Author

833WMaple

Date

2011-08-03T09:20:10-06:00