Black History All Year 2020 . . At the age of 15, she attended Bennett College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. After graduating in 1952, Thomas worked as a contributing writer for Ebony Magazine and then landed her first teaching job as a high school chemistry teacher in Asheville, North Carolina. . . Thomas continued her education earning a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Seattle University and a Doctorate in Organizational Development and Management from Union University. Thomas then became a Nationally Certified Strategic Planning Consultant and Negotiator. After beginning her teaching career in Washington state as a high school chemistry teacher in Kent, Washington, she continued in education for the next 42 years serving as both a vice principal and principal. . . Mayor William H. Harrison appointed her as Deputy Mayor in 1995 possibly becoming the first black woman in the state to hold that title. Thomas served in that position until 2003. In 2006, Thomas was selected Mayor of Lakewood by the seven-member city council, becoming the first African American woman mayor in Washington State. She ran for re-election for a full-term in 2007, but several critics argued that at the age of 76, she was too old to effectively represent all the residents of the city as their mayor. Thomas lost her re-election bid to 36-year-old opponent, Lisa Ikeda. However, she continued serving on the Lakewood City Council until 2011. At the age of 81, she decided to not run for re-election to the city council. . . #blackeducatorsrock #blackeducator #blackmayor #ebonymagazine #bennettcollege #naacp #washingtonmonument #blackauthors #blackpolitics #blackwomeninpower (at Shannon, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9mF_KeAqTM/?igshid=y4khrq4ayuvh