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Paul Thomas
Phone: 803-938-3866
Room: 104 Business Administration Building
Opportunity Scholars Program
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English and Writing Skills Specialist
Academic Affairs
Born in Virginia, I still consider myself a hillbilly because of my formative Camelot years in Western North Carolina. After undergraduate years at a decent basketball school in Durham, I returned to the hills for a master’s degree at Appalachian State. Following a futile year of teaching in Asheville, I left the lower forty-eight to pursue adventures and riches while bringing the great tundra oil pipeline into fruition. In melodramatic fashion, I fell victim to the “Alaska-for-Alaskans” policy, and my diamond icicle dreams began to melt. When winter summarily vanquished summer, I rolled south leaving the Jack London landscape in my rear-view mirror.
For aggravated romantic naiveté, I was given 32 years in Sumter School District 17. Countless attitude-adjustment techniques employed by revolving administrative teams proved partially successful. Herded into practically every extracurricular activity under the Sumter High aegis apart from junior-varsity cheerleader sponsor and field hockey assistant coach, I occasionally caught a bad case of cynicism with symptoms ranging from mild concession-stand-sausage-dog disgruntlement to full-blown post modern angst common to driving a fully loaded activity bus. However, like a wet lick from domesticated man’s best friend, a kind word or smile from a student would remind me that it was pretty swell to be a human and breathing.
My chronic addiction to golf testifies to the possible triumph of hope over experience. Other pleasures include bridge and time with a good pre-1940’s book in front of a fireplace. One son is a senior at Appalachian State; the other a graduate of the same institution. My bride of nearly thirty years, Debbie, is principal at Alice Drive Elementary.
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