Thomas, Jeffrey / Meet the Teacher

	Name: Email: jeffrey.thomas@slps.org Room Number(s): 211 W Subject(s): Transition Services Building Phone: 314-776-3300
Teacher Message: Hello there! I am one of the district's vocational adjustment counselors. My job is to prepare students for life after high school. I refer students to work experience programs, link them with community services such as the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Mental Health, teach them to use public transportation, and assist them with finding employment. I currently serve students at Gateway STEM High School, Virtual Academy @ Gateway, McKinley High School, Central VPA, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, Gateway Middle School, Pamoja Preparatory Academy, and McKinley Middle School. Parent-teacher conferences will be held on October 19 from 2:15 PM to 8:45 PM. The conferences can be accessed through MS Teams using the following link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OTJiNmFkZGYtYmVmMS00NmMxLTg4MTEtYjM2MzRiOWU1ZTRh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2208e33d6b-a654-486a-80e3-20b190ae22d7%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2227972834-b011-44eb-a1c6-c6ffa882c978%22%7d If you have any questions regarding your child's transition services, please contact me at: jeffrey.thomas@slps.org. I will make every attempt to respond the same day. I am also providing links to services you can access from home. Employment services through Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation for students at Gateway STEM and Gateway Virtual Academy: (314) 587-4877 Employment services through Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation for students at Central VPA, McKinley, and Collegiate: (314) 877-2940 For information about case management through the St. Louis Regional Tri-County Office of the Department of Mental Health: https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/regional-offices/stlouis Community service providers for individuals with disabilities who can provide a wide range of information and services: www.slarc.org www.easterseals.com/midwest www.paraquad.org www.pfh.org/individuals-with-disabilities www.ucpheartland.org www.mersgoodwill.org Applications for Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation services and Department of Mental Health case management services can be found by clicking the "Applications" tab on my web page. If you click on the "Resources" tab, you will find access to a number of resources for students interested in exploring the world of work. Additional resources for families during the summer https://stl.works/ http://stlyouthjobs.org/ https://www.slarc.org/programs/school-age/camp-summer-programs/ https://www.paraquad.org/programs-and-services/employment-services/volunteer-opportunities-project/ https://www.paraquad.org/programs-and-services/employment-services/wipa/
Biography: I've held many jobs in my illustrious career: short-order cook, carpet cleaner, factory worker, railroad conductor, deputy juvenile officer, licensed professional counselor, and special education teacher. These jobs have given me a wealth of experience that I love sharing with the students. I truly love my job. I have two adult sons who make me proud every day. In my spare time, I love to read, hike, work in my garden, and travel. I've been to Turkey, England, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. I'm looking to add many more places to that list.