We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Deidre Reid-Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Deidre, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I often refer to Thomas Ed as the “Elephant in the Womb” because this was not an idea that came up suddenly, rather it is something I have always dreamed of implementing since I entered the arena of education. Thomas Ed is built on the foundation of the whole child, the holistic perspective of creating an environment where both academics and social emotional learning exist in harmony. My 20+ years of experience gave me insight into what works and what doesn’t work and the pandemic was the impetus to act on what I truly believed in. Being a scholar practitioner I understood Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, I studied it, I wrote about it, and taught it to others. However, I also observed where at times people struggled with the implementation and balancing act of meeting the basic human needs (psychological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization) given the rigorous academic needs on a large scale campus during specified hours. I wanted to create a space where students through creative outlets had the opportunity to thrive holistically in activities that tie into human needs and academics.

So, let’s take a step back because, in all fairness I had my sites set on becoming a principal in the education system. I was on the right track, interviewed well, received phenomenal feedback, applied for multiple positions but that door was not opening. I am a very determined and strong minded individual, I knew education was my purpose but in all honesty I was knocking on the wrong doors. I needed to create the space that was calling me and I couldn’t do that unless I stepped away from the traditional path I was following. I always tell teachers that I worked with to “think outside of the box” and here I was staying in the box. So, I left my stable career and decided to open Thomas Ed Learning Center.

Thomas Ed Learning Center, is a brick and mortar location, that offers a flexible small group setting for students and families that are looking for a space outside of the norm. We offer tutoring, afterschool programming, summer academies, and networking for students in grades 6-12 regardless of their educational environment. This includes homeschool students, virtual education, public and private. Everything we do is built around the Voice of C.A.L.M. Framework that I developed to provide a strategic, student-centered approach that integrates academic success with social-emotional well-being. Through three core themes—Holistic Learning and Social Emotional Growth, Academic Empowerment through Innovative Strategies, and Transformative Partnerships and Community Impact—the Voice of C.A.L.M.  equips students with tools for resilience, mastery, and collaboration.

We uniquely integrate Podcasting, Pilates, and Photography as tools for student transformation. Podcasting nurtures voice and storytelling. Pilates teaches breathwork, balance, and mindfulness. Photography helps students capture the world—and themselves—with new perspective. These immersive experiences foster empathy and equip students to become visionaries who are resilient, expressive, and ready to lead.

Thomas Ed Learning Center takes tutorials to a new level by encouraging collaboration through community-based learning projects. The environment of Thomas Ed Learning center screams innovation with a setting built around creativity. Our mission statement is to I.G.N.I.T.E that burning passion for learning and elevate you to new heights – academically and in life! We nurture an innovative spirit, a growth mindset, networking skills, inspiration to lead and elevation to new levels, hence why we Innovate to Elevate.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born in Jamaica and migrated to the United States with my mother at a fairly young age. I come from a family of educators, my Great GrandAunt was a teacher, my aunt was a Principal at Spanish Town Primary School in Jamaica, my Mother a SPED Teacher and Behavior Management Administrator and my father an Engineer and Math Teacher. All roads pointed to education  but my sights were set on medicine and music. I accelerated in music from elementary school by playing the piano and progressed to picking up and mastering the Trumpet, French Horn, and Mellaphone when I entered middle and high school. I shared this passion with the love for medicine and attended a Medical Magnet Program in High School where I continued to excel and became a Silver Knight Award Winner in Music with a project centered around my volunteer activities in the Pediatric Emergency Room. I attended the University of South Florida and pursued a degree in Biomedical Sciences where I continued to fall in love with Chemistry, however, I decided that medicine may not be exactly where I wanted to land. As a pediatric emergency room doctor I wanted to take chaotic situations that have fallen apart and stitch them back together. I soon found out that I could accomplish the same goals as an educator and even more so as an administrator. In the past 20 years, of which 10 were as a high school Assistant Principal, I have seen it all. I triaged, registered, treated, re-evaluated, and discharged students from my care on a continuous basis but something was still missing. I held the necessary certifications as a subject area expert including a masters and doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Lynn University but I still needed to see my vision of holistic education.

In the past 3 years I have taken up the hobby of photography. I love nature and I love capturing moments that are uniquely beautiful and captivating to the soul. I decided to buy a camera and a few books and to go for it. It has been one of the best decisions in my life. I now see the world through a different lens which may sound cliché but “beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder”. Photography is a creative process and the same can be applied to education. Everyday I let light tell the story and have transferred the same techniques into my daily business practices.

Thomas Ed, LLC is a holistic educational support center dedicated to transforming how students in grades 6–12 learn, grow, and thrive. We also extend support to parents through our ‘Education by Design’ initiative, offering workshops that equip them to make informed educational decisions for their children in any setting. This comprehensive approach ensures parents are confident in advocating for their child’s educational success, reinforcing our commitment to fostering enduring learning partnerships between students, families, and educators.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Perfectionism….let it go! When I am embarked on the journey of opening a brick and mortar I had a vision for exactly of how I wanted my space to look, feel, sound, etc. I wanted everything in place, a finished polished product before moving forward to the next step. Construction woes pushed me to opening as-is and guess what …it was perfectly fine. I had a space that was fully functional and could perform all the duties I needed it to do without renovations. Little did I know that this was the catapult to an even greater discovery. In the process of furnishing my space in its current state, I was looking to cover a very large wall and made a trip to a well known store. I saw a traditional periodic table that caught my eye but they did not have it in stock. I searched and searched,  nothing. I went online to their other stores… nothing. As I drove to Thomas Ed all I could think about was how that would have been perfect. So we start unloading the vehicle and I am standing inside looking at this blank wall and the light bulb went off. Build your own periodic table but merge it with social emotional wellness…put your skills to work as an innovator and former chemistry teacher and create what you desire.
 
So I got to work, measuring the wall, spacing out the distance between the tiles, making the affirmations, creating them and sending them off for printing. All I could think about was how great this was going to be for the students I serve at Thomas Ed. The tiles arrived, I purchased a leveler and got them on the wall. I soon realized that I had something bigger than the walls of Thomas Ed but still didn’t realize what it was. It wasn’t until I shared it with a group of women that I meet with virtually every 2 weeks that confirmed the power of what was created.
 
At the heart of our work is Periodic Affirmations©, a branded product line that creatively merges science with self-worth. These tools—ranging from mugs and wall décor to a full 118-card deck—help students, educators, and professionals reinforce their brilliance through daily affirmations inspired by the Periodic Table. Periodic Affirmations© combine elemental properties with positive affirmations that speak to the inner strength and capabilities of individuals. The impact of the affirmation statement drives curiosity into the elements and their properties, causing further exploration into their respective origins. Bring all of the above to life in a visually striking display and position it in a highly visible, attention-grabbing location.
Some of the key benefits include: Encourages a growth mindset and resilience, Supports emotional regulation and stress reduction, Enhances comprehension of scientific concepts across disciplines, Creates an inspiring, wellness-centered atmosphere that enhances productivity and morale.

Periodic Affirmations© align with neuroscience by reinforcing brain pathways associated with emotional stability and regulation. At the end of the day it’s not about the material the words are printed on but the impact the words have on someone’s heart and soul.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

As a lifelong learner, I find fulfillment in constantly discovering new strategies to grow and strengthen my business. It also depends on where you are in the journey of your businesss because what I listened to in 2022 (launch phase) to now 2025 (Start-Up/Building the Foundation Phase) is completely different. I have found the greatest success in the following 3 methods: Podcasts, Books (Physical and Audio) and Networking Events.

I listen to a podcast every Monday, entitled the Business of Story by Park Howell. The importance of sharing the story of your brand and how it developed is essential. It reminds me that everything boils down to the “Why” in my business. My why is to provide a holistic educational experience that transforms how our students see the world. An experience that provides them with skill sets to be empathetic listeners and voices that impact the community and world that surround them, in a way that aligns with your purpose in life. If I stay true to the story of my brand then everything I do is moving in the right direction for Thomas Ed, LLC.

I also love physical and audio books, because they provide a sense of calm especially when I am in a relaxing environment or when traveling in the car. Two books that were recommended recently, The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick  and 10x is Easier than 2x by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy have pushed me to evaluate how I am looking at my goals and am I asking the right questions. This comes heavily into play as I embark on the marketing aspect of my business.
Finally, networking with fellow entrepreneurs is a invaluable resource. Learning from your peers gives you insights and perspectives that may slip past you as you go about your everyday routines. It also, gives you the opportunity to listen and reflect while embracing the fact that everybody’s journey looks different.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thomasedsolutions.com
• Instagram: @thomasedlearningcenter https://www.instagram.com/thomasedlearningcenter?igsh=eDM4bjZ4OWJybjMw&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: Thomas Ed Learning Center https://www.facebook.com/share/16MN5Mzdy9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidre-reid-thomas
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeidreReid-Thomas
• Other: @periodicaffirmations https://www.instagram.com/periodicaffirmationsigsh=MXU5Nm1uNDd2dDI0bg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  http://periodicaffirmations.com

  TikTok: @deeann81 https://www.tiktok.com/@deeann81?_t=ZT-8vAkvtF7J3C&_r=1

Image Credits

David I. Muir
Dr. Deidre Reid-Thomas (Framework and Giraffe)