PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (December 1, 2020) – Katina L. Thomas, Ed.D., joined the faculty of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) in the fall of 2018. It was a full-circle moment for Thomas, who graduated from PVAMU in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies after following in the footsteps of her parents, brother, and extended family, all of whom also graduated from “The Hill.”
Katina L. Thomas, Ed.D.
“[PVAMU] has always been a part of my life. I am a second-generation proud alumna,” she said. “Returning to PVAMU means that I can continue the tradition of preparing future generations of professionals.”
Thomas earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston. Today, she teaches in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (CUIN) at PVAMU as an assistant professor of literacy education. She has been widely published in the areas of culturally responsive and relevant literacy approaches, which includes textbook chapters and an article to help first-year teachers transition into the classroom.
“When I enrolled in college, I ultimately wanted to become a superintendent of schools, and I knew that to be a strong leader, I first needed to understand what was going on in learning environments. As I matriculated through the education program at PVAMU, I realized that teaching is a service, and it was fulfilling to see the enjoyment, the laughter, and the reactions of students as they grasped a concept that you are teaching them. Their reactions were infectious, and I knew that teaching was always going to be a part of my lifelong journey,” Thomas said.
Thomas began her career as a classroom teacher in the Alief Independent School District and went on to join the University of Houston as a visiting assistant professor while completing her advanced degrees. After earning her Ed.D., she became a University of Houston – Downtown adjunct professor, then an assistant professor and director of student teaching and field experiences at University of Houston – Victoria.
“I enjoy teaching because it involves more than what is on the syllabus and in the textbook. It involves using your life experiences to coach and mentor students as they transition into professionals,” she said. “My favorite part is the healthy relationship building. If I can build positive professional relationships with my students, then I know that they will be more receptive to the information that I am teaching them.”
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused courses to move online. Thomas said she had to get more creative by fostering more student-centered projects to maintain student input and engagement. She already had online teaching experience from previous positions, so the transition was relatively seamless.
“I always seem to have success with the simulation and practice of skills that my students need to make them more competitive in the job market,” she said. “My most successful teaching method to date has been the students’ teaching of lesson plans that they have written themselves. We walk through the components of building a literacy lesson that they would teach in their future classroom. They teach their written lesson to their peers, and I evaluate and give them feedback in the role of an administrator.”
Depending on the content, she also provides a combination of brief lectures, class discussions, as well as interactive materials and resources students can use to prepare for certifications and employment opportunities.
“I hope to produce a strong generation of 21st-century educators that can not only positively influence their students, but also evolve into leaders and change agents in education, regardless of their role or position,” she said.
Despite the pandemic, Thomas continues to be active in research publication and committee service. She serves as an associate editor for the TALE Yearbook, a professional journal published by the Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE). She is also a member of the Undergraduate Council, College of Education Curriculum Committee, Department of Curriculum and Instruction Assessment Committee, and the chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Curriculum Committee.
“Returning to my alma mater has been an enlightening experience for me and an opportunity that is not afforded to everyone,” Thomas said. “My aim is to help cultivate the next generation of PV teachers, and to pour into them the same way that my professors did for me when I was a future teacher on ‘The Hill.’”
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