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Paulette J. "Polly" Thomas, PhD.
 Dr. Polly Thomas is a special education expert, career educator, and public servant. She worked as a speech therapist in Louisiana and Texas, a special education coordinator, and an educational diagnostician. She taught at Texas A&M University and is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of New Orleans (UNO). She completed an appointment as Interim Associate Dean of the College of Education at UNO. She also served as Assistant Superintendent of Special Education for Louisiana.
Dr. Thomas has authored two books, two chapters in a book in its fourth edition, and numerous research articles. She has obtained about $3 million in external funding for various projects. She has worked for 11 years on a project to identify and serve elementary students who exhibit learning difficulties. This project is gaining attention nationally having been named a "promising practice" by the Council for Exceptional Children and touted by the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.
Polly has been active professionally, politically, and in her community. Some of her activities are listed below:
Professional Affiliations
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Council for Educational Diagnostic Services - National and State President, President-elect,
Vice President, newsletter editor.
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Council for Exceptional Children
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Orton Dyslexia Society, Board Member of Louisiana branch
Community/Civic Activities
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Jefferson Parish Charter Advisory Committee, Secretary
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Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
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East Jefferson General Hospital Foundation, Board Member
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Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Board Member
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Jefferson Parish League of Women Voters, Secretary
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Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), Board Member
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St. Catherine of Siena School Board - elective office - Member for 11 years, President
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Metairie Woman's Club, Civic Chairman, Treasurer
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Education Committee, Academy of the Sacred Heart
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Archbishop's Community Appeal
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Judge, Voice of Democracy essays, Veterans of Foreign Wars
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Girls' Cabbage Ball coach, St. Catherine of Siena, 9 years
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"Card Lady" for swim team, Lakeside Country Club
Political
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Jefferson Parish School Board - elective office - Member, President, Vice-President
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Republican State Central Committee, District 80B - elective office
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Republican Party of Louisiana, Vice Chairman - elective office
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Republican Parish Executive Committee, Jefferson Parish - elective office
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East Jefferson Republican Women - Member, President
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Jefferson 25 - newsletter editor
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Greater New Orleans Pachyderm Club - Member
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Associate Member of Metro Club, Republican Women of Jefferson Parish, Republican Professional Women of Greater New Orleans, Republican Women of Kenner, Women's Republican Club of New Orleans
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Institute of Politics, Loyola University - Fellow
Honors and Awards
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One of 50 Women of the Year, City Business.
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Woman in Business Advocate, Small Business Association and Louisiana Department of Economic Development
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Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International
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YWCA Role Model
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One of 40 Outstanding Women Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Metro Area
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50 People to Watch, New Orleans Magazine
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Who's Who in American Education
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Researcher of Distinction, Phi Delta Kappa
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Outstanding Accomplishment, College of Education, Texas A&M University
Leadership Training
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Leadership Louisiana - sponsored by CABL
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New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI) - sponsored by the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Metropolitan Area Committee (MAC) Leadership Forum
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 Dr. Thomas is a wife, mother, and grandmother, an avid gardener and bridge player, and a pretty decent tennis player. Her husband of 38 years is Dr. Robert A. (Bob) Thomas, founding director of the Louisiana Nature Center. Bob now holds the Loyola Chair in Environmental Communications at Loyola University New Orleans.
Polly and Bob's children are well on their way to building their own places in their communities. Jennifer (married to Greg Phillips) earned a Master's degree in Arts Administration and works at a locally-owned company. Aimée earned a Master's degree in Biology and teaches biology courses and coordinates all freshman labs at USM. Patrick earned a Bachelor's degree from Loyola and has managed a local restaurant.
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In her career, Polly has served the educational needs of youngsters as a practitioner, teacher trainer, mentor, researcher, administrator, and policy maker. She continues to serve her community by addressing quality of life issues.
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Polly Thomas for Senate 
About Polly 
