Malcolm Thomas has 40 years of educational experience in Escambia County, Florida as a teacher, district administrator and superintendent. He is a U.S. Army Veteran, having served with the 101st Airborne Division. He began his teaching career in 1980 at the same high school he attended as a student (Tate High School). While teaching at Tate, Mr. Thomas was selected as Tate High School Teacher of the Year. It was also during his teaching tenure that Mr. Thomas was chosen Escambia County Teacher of the Year, to which he became a finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year. With both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of West Florida, Superintendent Thomas has led the Escambia County Schools to new levels of accountability and transparency during his tenure as Superintendent of Schools. He was elected to three (3) four-year terms spanning the time from November 2008 until retirement in November 2020. During his final two terms in office, Mr. Thomas built six (6) schools: 4 elementary and 2 middle schools, in addition to managing $24 million annually in construction projects.
Mr. Thomas has been married to the former Sandra O’Gwynn for 50 years this past June. He is the father to two daughters and grandfather to six granddaughters.
Awards
- 2022 Appointed by State Board of Education to Florida Professional Practices
- 2019 Florida Superintendent of the Year
- 2018 George Washington Freedom Award (National Freedom Foundation)
- 2016-2017 President, Florida Association District Superintendents (FADSS)
- 2017 Law Day Liberty Bell Award
- 2013-2020 Florida Association District Superintendents Board of Directors
- 2013 God In Government Award
- 2011 Florida Star Superintendent of the Year
- 2010 Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sports – Presidential Award
- 2006 Escambia Association of Administrators in Education – Member of the Year
- 2000 Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Local Advocacy Committee (LAC)
- 1996 Appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to serve on the local Human Rights Advocacy
Committee (HRAC) - 1992 Optimist of the Year (Optimist International) Ensley Optimist Club
- 1986 George Washington Educator Medal (National Freedom Foundation Award)
- 1985 Panhandle Region Teacher of the Year (finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year)
- 1985 Escambia County Teacher of the Year
- 1984 Tate High School Teacher of the Year
- 1971 Tate High School Student Government President
- 1970 Youth delegate to Paris Peace Talks to discuss POW-MIA (Pensacola Nine)
