Leopold Thomas

Educational Director

FOCH Sterling Place Center

Leopold Thomas is the Educational Director at our 813 Sterling Place Center in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He holds a Dual Master of Science degree in General and Special education from the Metropolitan College of New York, as well as the New York State certification in both disciplines for Grades 1 -6.  

Mr. Thomas joined our Friends of Crown Heights family in February, 2011, and worked in both our Early Childhood and School-age Child Care programs before becoming a Director at one of our Comprehensive After-school (COMPASS) programs funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. He most recently served as Assistant Director of our Ford Street center. Mr. Thomas  had also previously worked with students from Pre-kindergarten to Grade 9 for more than 30 years in both the Anglophone Caribbean and New York City classrooms. In addition to his extensive classroom experience, he has studied American Sign Language with the Michigan Department of Education and is the holder of a certificate in Human Capital from the International Co-operation & Development Fund in Taiwan. Additionally, he holds a professional teaching certificate from the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Teachers’ College, as well as the Bachelor of Science degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies.

Mr. Thomas is a highly committed career educator whose philosophy is to provide an environment of compassion and support that is conducive to learning so that our children’s diverse talents can blossom and thrive.