Dr. Sally Thompson is a dedicated educator, having successfully served the profession for over 42 years. She was the first black Principal in New Britain Conn. and served as a teacher and administrator in Brooklyn N.Y. and Amityville, Long Island before coming to the Hempstead School District where she worked for 26 years, as a principal of five of the seven elementary schools and retired as the Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

During her tenure, Thompson created and instituted a number of programs that are still utilized by the Hempstead School District today. Following her retirement, she was a consultant with the New York State Education Department where she wrote and implemented a proposal for the first Elementary Alternative School Program for suspended Elementary school students. Additional duties included drafting exam questions, sitting on bias committees and handling scoring for the exam to license Superintendents and Principals across the State of New York. Some of her other consulting work included writing curriculum for The National Collegiate Charter Schools in Washington, D.C. and writing national exams for children across the country on behalf of the Harcourt Educational Company.

While pursuing her doctorate at Nova Southeastern University, Thompson’s dissertation recommendations were developed into a New Teacher Mentoring Program, which The New York State Education Department mandated for all school districts statewide. Dr. Thompson was also named chairperson of the subcommittee, making mentoring mandatory for newly certified teachers in New York State. Dr. Thompson was asked to present her dissertation at Oxford University in England as a guest expert. Consequently, the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department appointed her to serve on the Professional Practices and Standards Board for Teaching, which set policy for teachers in the State of New York.

Dr. Thompson holds a B.A. from Boston University in Education, a Masters Degree from Long Island University in Guidance and Counseling, a Professional Diploma in Organizational Studies from New York University, and Doctoral Degree from Nova Southeastern University in Educational Leadership.

Besides her educational accomplishments, Dr. Thompson has served as the President of the Kiwanis Club of Hempstead and is active in the NAACP as well as a member of the Union Baptist Church in Hempstead and a member of the Advisory Board of Directors on the Nassau County Salvation Army. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at Cohen Children’s Hospital, which is part of the Long Island Jewish Hospital complex. Dr. Thompson is the recipient of many awards and honors, but is especially proud of being named Educator of the Year by the NAACP, and Educator of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women. Her motto is “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required.” God has blessed her with having a wonderful career in education and she will continue to give back as long as life lasts.