Ten years after the passing of Dr. George B. Thomas, Sr., his legacy is being remembered once again across Montgomery County. On Tuesday, MCPS Physical Education Supervisor Dr. Cara Grant shared a video originally produced by MCPS in 2016, the year Dr. Thomas passed away, honoring the founder of the Saturday School program and highlighting the lasting impact of his life’s work. For thousands of students and families, Dr. Thomas’ influence was not abstract or symbolic. It was personal, practical, and life changing.
Dr. Thomas founded what would become the George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy and its signature Saturday School program in 1986. With the help of fraternity brothers from the Mu Nu chapter of Omega Psi Phi, he opened the doors to the very first class, welcoming 19 students who showed up on a Saturday morning ready to learn. From that modest beginning, Saturday School grew into one of the most respected and enduring academic support programs in Montgomery County.
Over more than 30 years, Saturday School became a critical partner with Montgomery County Public Schools, eventually serving more than 3,000 students at 12 locations across the county. Each Saturday during the school year, students received academic instruction, mentoring, and encouragement in an environment built on high expectations and unwavering belief in their potential.
Dr. Thomas’ motivation was rooted deeply in his own life story. He grew up in a family of sharecroppers in segregated South Carolina, where opportunity was limited and inequality was a daily reality. His mother instilled in him a belief that would guide his entire life: education is the great equalizer. Dr. Thomas often spoke about how her determination that he receive a strong education opened doors that otherwise would have remained closed, and how he felt a responsibility to help create those same opportunities for others.
That belief shaped every chapter of his career. Dr. Thomas served five years in the U.S. Air Force before joining MCPS, where he worked as a classroom teacher, school based administrator, and central office administrator. His commitment to education extended into higher education, with roles as an instructor and professor at Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia, and later as president of Voorhees College, a Historically Black College in South Carolina.
Following his tenure at Voorhees, Dr. Thomas was appointed the first Presidential Scholar in Residence at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, supporting the nation’s public and private HBCU presidents. He also served as a senior level administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration from 1984 to 1994, where he was awarded the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s Silver Medal for Meritorious Achievement in recognition of exceptional service.
Despite a resumé that spanned education, federal service, and higher education leadership, Saturday School remained central to Dr. Thomas’ identity and purpose. Those who worked alongside him often spoke about his complete dedication to Montgomery County’s children and his belief that every student, with the right support, could take the next step forward.
Dr. Thomas held degrees from Voorhees College, South Carolina State University, The American University, the University of Maryland at College Park, and earned his doctorate in Curriculum and Educational Administration from The George Washington University. His career was recognized with numerous honors, including Washingtonian of the Year in 2008, the Maryland State Department of Education’s Excellence in Minority Achievement Award, and Leadership Montgomery’s Unsung Leadership Award.
When he retired from leadership of the Learning Academy in July 2016, Dr. Thomas passed the torch to Reginald Felton, but the foundation he built remained strong. A decade after his passing, Saturday School continues to reflect his core belief that education, combined with encouragement and community, can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
For Montgomery County, Dr. George B. Thomas, Sr. is remembered not just for the programs he created or the titles he held, but for the doors he opened, the confidence he instilled, and the thousands of students who are better off because he believed in them.
