-Principal Thomas

By: Anika S.

“My principal, Mr. Thomas, has a cool and calm personality.” These are words from a student of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. If you were to look for Mr. Thomas, he is tall, slim, brown-skinned, and gray-haired. He usually wears a button-down shirt with a tie, and nicely ironed pants. “Mr. Thomas has always been a well groomed man,” said Ms. Valerie Johnson, a paraprofessional at Kean High.

As a young child Mr. Thomas was lived in the area we call “Round The Field” along with his sister Ms. Linda Thomas, the librarian of Joseph A. Gomez School. Mr. Lamont H. Thomas was born on the island of St. Thomas. As a child he attended the J. Antonio Jarvis School; then he was a student of the Charlotte Amalie School. In the year of 1966 Mr. Thomas graduated from Livingstone College in North Carolina where he received a master’s degree in supervision following a bachelor’s degree in social science.

Mr. Thomas began teaching at Wayne Aspinal Junior High School (now known as Cancryn) as a reading teacher in 1970. In 1985 he became an assistant principal at the Joseph A. Gomez School for two months, then moved to Michael J. Kirwan (now the Gladys A. Abraham) School for six years.

Baseball, basketball, volleyball, track & field, and singing are many things Mr. Thomas loves to do for fun.

As a music lover, Mr. Thomas said, “When I was growing up, I listened to all the different types of music, such as calypso, reggae, etc., but my favorite type of music would have to be gospel.”

Mr. Thomas is much more than a school principal; he is also a father of five sons ages 17-35, and a loving husband.

Mr. Thomas has been in education from 1985 - 2011. He would not give out his real age, but he did give a clue. Mr. Thomas said, “I am over the age of 60.”

Being a principal is not easy. Mr. Thomas is in charge of th grade, JROTC, JAG, Physical Education, and lunch.

As a result of being the new principal, you would think Mr. Thomas would feel uncomfortable, but you can think again. “I’m comfortable in this school because most of the kids are from BCB.”

Yes, Mr. Thomas is a familiar face, but there are things students don’t know. For instance, he is very active in church, as a minister and choir singer in the Sts. Peter and Paul Church. “With being a minister I can’t help but to be concerned with the economy, health, social life, and youths.

“If I could give advice to the youths, it would be to stay in school and do not become involved in things adults are doing, for example their cars, drugs, and social life.

“I feel if you grow up too fast, you’re going to miss your childhood days ; adulthood is right around the corner! I would also tell them to make plans to go college.” Very strong words from Mr.Thomas himself.

With all that Mr. Thomas does at work, guess what’s next for him.... “I have made a choice to retire,” said Mr. Thomas. It will be hard to say good bye, but at some point it is more than necessary.