Dr. Karen Thomas is a kid from Newark NJ. In 1999 she helped to found and open Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark. Starting with 60 students in 4 classrooms, the school has grown to 2200 students on 5 campuses serving PreK-12. MPTCS is the largest independent charter school in NJ. As a community school, it offers 3 themed elementary academy choices-- performing and culinary arts, single gender academy for boys and girls; STEAM academy, and a culinary and performing arts High school. Prior to MPTCS, Thomas was director of Marketing for Essence. There, she launched The ESSENCE Musical Festival and Emmy Award-winning Essence Awards tv special. Dr. Thomas received a BA from Simmons College and earned masters degrees from NYU and Kean University. Her action-research doctoral work in single gender literacy focused on elementary boys has been published and was the foundation for MPTCS program. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at both her graduate alma maters