Administration

Jackson Public Schools appointed Carla Thomas to serve as the new principal of Wilkins Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year. She has served in the educational arena for 25 years. Mrs. Thomas holds a Specialist degree in both Elementary Education and Educational Leadership.

She has served in various capacities in education from instructional assistant to principal. Her teaching career began as a second grade Instructional Assistant prior to becoming a first-grade teacher for three years. She served as lead teacher, a position that she would hold for the next three years. Mrs. Thomas then became Literacy Coach/Interventionist of George Elementary school for seven years. After serving as assistant principal for one year, Mrs. Thomas returned to George Elementary as school principal. Upon the closure of George Elementary, Mrs. Thomas was appointed as Principal of Clausell Elementary, a position she would serve in for seven years.

Mrs. Thomas sees her scholars as roses in a rose garden with educators as the gardeners. According to Mrs. Thomas,  “We have to know our roses and provide them with just the amount of nurturing needed to allow them to bloom to their fullest potential. Just as no two roses are identical, we must accept the differences and adjust what we do on a daily basis if we are to achieve our district and school’s goals.”