JOHN WESLEY THOMAS
Leander,TX
Summary
Best Practices Teacher and developing Psychotherapist with significant employment in diverse school and mental health settings. Background serving multicultural populations in individual and group environments. Knowledgeable working with teenagers and adults in secondary and collegiate atmospheres.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Secondary Literature and Languages Teacher
STERLING CLASSICAL SCHOOL
07.2014 - Current
- School of Logic and Rhetoric English Teacher, Latin, Greek, Sound Design Class Instructor for 8-12 Grade English Curriculum Development.
- Created curricula, tests, and exams to reinforce student learning in Literature, Latin, Greek, and Multimedia classes.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Provided academic advisement and educational guidance for adult learners using constructive feedback, in-person facilitation, contact calls, and emails.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
- Challenged and engaged students through in-depth lectures, debates, and discussions on literary subjects.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Increased student literacy rates by implementing targeted reading strategies in individualized instruction plans.
Professor
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Austin, Round Rock, Texas
06.2014 - 08.2018
- Developmental Writing and Reading Professor, for Developmental Writing and Reading Class Instructor for GED Writing and Math Classes.
- Shifted between informal and formal methods of teaching to create multi-layered web of learning, incorporating experiments, practical activities, discussions and projects into lessons.
- Used variety of learning modalities and support materials to facilitate learning process and accentuate presentations, including visual, aural and social learning modalities.
- Offered career assistance to students by conducting mock interviews, providing relevant job opportunities and teaching networking skills and strategies.
- Probed, encouraged and facilitated class discussions by building discussions into lessons, asking open-ended questions and using techniques to track student participation and actively solicit input.
- Assisted and identified at-risk students to eliminate student barriers to learning.
AP Literature Teacher
St. Michael's Catholic Academy
Westlake, Texas
08.2011 - 06.2014
- Collaborated on and implemented innovative pedagogical initiatives that focused on student-first, hands-on and experiential learning to foster Literature instruction.
- Utilized curriculum which reflected diverse educational, cultural and linguistic background of student body.
- Helped students develop important learning skills and good study habits useful in trade school or college education.
- Inspired academic success based on belief that all students can achieve excellence, regardless of background.
Subject Matter Expert, Curriculum Specialist and Writer
Oak Academy
Online
08.2010 - 08.2011
- Planned coursework to introduce students to numerous pieces of important genres of literature.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Built learning and citizenship skills to help with personal growth in addition to increasing academic knowledge.
- Worked with other teachers to support struggling students and provide thorough help to rectify comprehension issues.
- Helped students develop important learning skills and good study habits useful in trade school or college education.
High School English Instructor
Summit Christian Academy
08.2007 - 01.2010
- Facilitate six classes consisting of 7-22 students each for grades 9-12.
- (Writing and Composition, Pre-AP World Literature, AP American Literature, British Literature, Speech, Philosophy).
- Utilize multiple assessments in compliance with school and College Board requirements to inform instruction.
- Use innovative methods and materials to produce effective learning experiences including cooperative learning, thematic instruction, and differentiation.
- Contributed to a significant increase in student performances on standardized testing.
- Provided instructional leadership to student college planning.
- Developed Curriculum overhaul.
Secondary English Teacher
HILL COUNTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF AUSTIN
Cedar Park, Texas
08.2005 - 08.2007
- Consulted with teachers in English and Philosophy disciplines to identify and adopt successful instructional strategies.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of all students.
- Wrote Literature curriculum and developed reading list for students, catering choices to modern student interests and class types.
- Provided personal guidance for students struggling both in and out of classrooms, maintaining professionalism while helping students feel safe.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
Inclusion Teacher and Occupational Therapist
NSSRA, LAKE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
Chicago, Illinois
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Served students with developmental disabilities in both core education classes and vocational training.
- Helped maintain growth patterns in educational development.
- Implemented various classroom management techniques for maintaining student attention, involvement and discipline.
- Partnered with parents in students’ success; provided feedback on students’ progress and to discuss areas needing improvement and additional work.
Assistant Teacher
NSSED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Chicago, Illinois
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Worked closely with highly disabled teenagers.
- Worked in a cooperative room environment.
- Worked with students vocationally.
- Taught Outdoor Education class open to all students.
Education
MHC/PHD - Mental Health Counseling
Seminary of The Southwest
Austin, TX05.2025
M.Ed - Developmental Psychology, Reading, Curriculum
Concordia University
Austin, TX06.2011
MAR - Textual Interpretation and Myth
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Oxford University
Deerfield, IL05.2005
BA - English and Communication
Trinity International University
Deerfield, IL2003
Skills
- Developmental Learning
- Multiple Intelligences
- Socratic Method
- Best Practices Writing/Composition
- Career counseling and advising
- College Readiness
- Crisis Intervention
- Multicultural Learning
- Social-Emotional Learning
- ESL
- Reading and Literacy
- Curriculum Development
- Adult Education
- Post-secondary education
Accomplishments
- Graduated with honors from all Graduate Programs
- Published Numerous Articles and Research
- Served as High School Girls Golf Coach with 3 State Championships
- More than 90% of AP Students passed with a 4 or 5 on the AP Exam.
- Graduate Assistant under Dr. Paul Heibert in Anthropolgical Research in Urban Religious Experience.
- Research Assistant under Dr. Grant Osborne for the Baker Exegetical Commentary on Revelations
- SIC Scholars Program while at Seminary of the Southwest
- As a composer nominated for Best Original Score for Independent English Full Length Movie in 2019.
Certification
- AP English Teacher Certification
- ACSI Teaching Certification
- NHS Council Member
- OpenMed Chronic Illness Research Group
- Society of Biblical Literature
- National Honors Society
- North Carolina Writer’s Network
- Writer’s league of Texas
- Invisible Children
- To Write Love on Her Arms
- Darkroom Exposure
- APA Membership
- ACA Membership
- ASERVIC Membership
- LGBTQ Ally and Therapy
- Spiritual Integration in Counseling
Languages
Greek
Professional Working
Hebrew
Professional Working
French
Elementary
Old English
Full Professional
Middle English
Full Professional
Latin
Full Professional
Timeline
Secondary Literature and Languages Teacher
STERLING CLASSICAL SCHOOL
07.2014 - Current
Professor
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
06.2014 - 08.2018
AP Literature Teacher
St. Michael's Catholic Academy
08.2011 - 06.2014
Subject Matter Expert, Curriculum Specialist and Writer
Oak Academy
08.2010 - 08.2011
High School English Instructor
Summit Christian Academy
08.2007 - 01.2010
Secondary English Teacher
HILL COUNTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF AUSTIN
08.2005 - 08.2007
Inclusion Teacher and Occupational Therapist
NSSRA, LAKE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
01.2004 - 01.2005
Assistant Teacher
NSSED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2003 - 01.2004
MHC/PHD - Mental Health Counseling
Seminary of The Southwest
M.Ed - Developmental Psychology, Reading, Curriculum
Concordia University
MAR - Textual Interpretation and Myth
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Oxford University
BA - English and Communication
Trinity International University