Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Cathy Thomas

  • Lecturer - Curriculum And Instruction
Portrait of Dr. Cathy Thomas

Biography and expertise

Cathy Newman Thomas received her Ph.D. in Special Education with a focus on Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders from The University of Texas in 2008. From 2009 to 2005, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri, Columbia. From 2015-2017, she was an Associate Professor at Mizzou. In Fall of 2017, she became an Assistant Professor at Texas State University. She is a licensed general education and special education teacher in California and New Jersey with 8 years of classroom experience. She is a licensed Learning Disabilities/Teacher Consultant in New Jersey.

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Special Education

University of Texas at Austin, 2008

Master's Degree

MA in Communication Science and Disorders

Montclair State University, 2002

Bachelor's Degree

AB in Liberal Arts

San Diego State University, 1980

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Thomas, Cathy (Principal), Billingsley, Glenna M (Co-Principal), Smith, Kenneth Scott (Co-Principal). Virtual reality to provide teacher training in behavior management, Texas State University Advancement Big Ideas, Texas State University, $367264. (Submitted: October 2020). Grant.
  • Thomas, Cathy Newman (Principal). Collaborative Research: Adapting Reading Comprehension Strategies for use in Elementary School Computer Science Instruction to Educate Tomorrow's Computational Innovators. REU Supplemental Funding, National Science Foundation, Federal, $7200. (Submitted: April 2018, Funded: May 2018). Grant.
  • Franklin, Diana, Thomas, Cathy. Comprehending Code: The Role of Reading Skills and Meta-cognition in Programming for Struggling Learners, EHR Core Program, National Science Foundation, Federal, $500000. (Funded: April 2017). Grant.
  • Thomas, Cathy. Research Leave, Spring 2018, University of Missouri, Institutional (Higher Ed). (Funded: 2016). Grant.
  • Barth, Amy E, Thomas, Cathy. Effects of Training Middle Schoolers to Make Inferences from Text, Mizzou Ed Investments in Faculty Research, Institutional (Higher Ed), $5113. (Funded: 2015). Grant.
View all grants
  • Randolph, K. M., Billingsley, G. M., & Thomas, C. N. (2024). Using behavior skills training and virtual simulations to train preservice practitioners in behavior management: An exploratory comparison study. Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship, 13(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.58729/2167-3454.1195
  • van Garderen, D., Hanuscin, D., Thomas, C. N., & Sadler, K. (2020). Part III:  The frameworks:  Reframing your instruction. In In D. Hanuscin & D. van Garderen (Eds.) Universal Design for Learning: Re-framing Elementary Science Instruction in Physical Science (Vol. Chapter 12, pp. 246–260). NSTA Press. Retrieved from https://my.nsta.org/resource/121585
  • van Garderen, D., Thomas, C., & Sadler, K. M. (2020). Part I:  The frameworks:  Reframing instruction with Universal Design for Learning. In In D. Hanuscin & D. van Garderen (Eds.) Universal Design for Learning: Re-framing Elementary Science Instruction in Physical Science (pp. 21–49). Retrieved from https://my.nsta.org/resource/121585
  • Lembke, E., Smith, R. A., & Thomas, C. N. (n.d.). Using assessment data, analyzing instructional practices, and making necessary adjustments that improve student outcomes. In High Leverage Practices (2nd Edition). Routledge.
  • Donehower, C. P., Walker, J., Thomas, C. N., Taylor, M., Best, Rose, C., & Vasquez, E. (n.d.). Functional analysis in simulated environments. The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship.
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: ICER Conference Best Reviewed. Paper Award, ICER. 2020
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Undergraduate Instructor of the Year, University of Missouri, College of Education. April 2017
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Isabelle Lyda Professorship, University of Missouri, College of Education. March 21, 2013 - March 21, 2015
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Lee Henson Access Mizzou Award, University of Missouri. October 8, 2014
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Faculty Scholars Program, Inaugural Class, University of Missouri. October 12, 2012 - October 12, 2013
View all awards
  1. Other

    Special Education Program

  2. Member

    CEEDAR Topical Action Group

  3. Undergraduate Advisor

    Special Education Program

  4. Secretary

    Texas Council for Exceptional Children

  5. Member

    Curriculum Jigsaw Committee

  6. Member

    Assessment and Data Jigsaw Committee

  7. View all activities