Spring Branch ISD Featured News

In Spring Branch ISD (SBISD), every path to becoming a teacher is as unique as the educator themselves. For Loren Thomas, it all began with a simple but powerful motivation: helping students realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined.

Thomas started her journey as a paraprofessional in SBISD’s Adult Post-Secondary Vocational Training Program (APT), supporting students with special needs as they prepared for life beyond the classroom. She later transitioned to a job coach role for the district’s Work-Based Learning class, training students directly on job sites to help build confidence and readiness for future employment.

“I think seeing my students feel a sense of accomplishment when they worked at a job site — and realizing that they were capable of more than they thought — was the moment I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Thomas shared. “I wanted to create that feeling of pride and possibility for as many students as I could.”

At one point, Thomas nearly gave up on the dream of becoming a certified teacher. Balancing a full-time job and parenting left little room for the traditional certification programs, which often lacked flexibility and support. But when she received an email from SBISD about its homegrown THRIVE program, everything changed.

“It felt like a sign," she said. "THRIVE has been nothing short of supportive. They are available all day, every day — I emailed Dr. Cobb more times than I can count, and she was always so helpful and responsive. It’s completely different from other programs, where getting an answer could take days."

Throughout the certification process with THRIVE and the University of Houston-Victoria, Thomas felt supported and encouraged. Every step along the way strengthened her confidence and brought her closer to achieving her dream.

For Thomas, the true reward isn’t just earning a certification — it's making a real impact every single day.

“Every day at work, I know I’m making a difference,” she said. “Working in special education is my calling.”

When asked what she hopes her students will remember about her, Thomas answered without hesitation: “That I was positive, encouraging, and believed they were capable of more than they ever thought possible.”

Thomas describes herself as motivating, patient, and flexible, and lives by the mantra: “Yes, you can do it.” It’s a philosophy she brings into every interaction with her students — and into her future as a teacher.

“My heart is in SBISD,” she said. “This is where I belong. My children are here, and I’ve met some of the best educators in the country right here in this district.”

Today, Loren Thomas is proud to serve as an Achieving Positive Transition Teacher in SBISD’s Special Education Department, helping students build skills, confidence, and dreams — one step at a time.