Katie Thomas

My leadership philosophy is rooted in how I can best serve those around me and to make sure that others consistently feel loved and appreciated. As a product of Hillsborough County Public Schools, I have developed my leadership skills as a student through the FMEA Student Experience to now as an educator in the FMEA Emerging Leaders program. I have been blessed with amazing mentors my whole life who have helped shape me into the person and leader I am today. In HCPS I have the honor of serving as our music councils President-Elect & as a FACE (Family and Community Engagement) Ambassador Leader. As District 3 Chair for FEMEA I plan on using my other leadership roles to continue to network and connect with others and use all the resources available to me to bring them to FEMEA to help better serve everyone in District 3. I will communicate more with the members of my District to see what their needs are and to help find ways to fulfil those needs. As Member-at-Large and Secretary for HCEMEC (Hillsborough County Elementary Music Council) I would send out monthly e-mails to check in and to see what teachers needed and ways I could personally help, or ways to find someone who could help them. I would also send out what I call “Happy School Mail” throughout Hillsborough County to help spread cheer to let our teachers know that they are truly valued and appreciated. I would like to apply some of these communication methods to District 3.  I truly believe every child deserves high quality music education and that is only possible if teachers know they are appreciated and know that they have people behind them to support them. As District 3 Chair it is my mission to make sure every teacher in District 3 feels valued by FEMEA and knows that I am there to cheer them on and to help them anyway I can.