Tomás García, Jr., Ed.D.
Director of Instruction
California School for the Deaf, Riverside

Education

B.S. in Spanish Language & Literature; B.S. Chicano/Chicana Studies
  California State University, Dominguez Hills
M.S. in Deaf Education,
  California State University, Northridge
Ed.D in Educational Technology,
  Pepperdine University, 2003

Dr. García was the Director of Instruction at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. Tomas is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the Instructional Division in this challenging day and age of accountability, and high-stakes testing.

Tomás has eight years of experience in the field of education and over twelve years of experience in services for the deaf serving in advisory roles to a number of non-profit agencies and organizations. Specifically, Dr. Garcia has served on the following boards: Gallaudet Universitys Department of Educations Collaboration Council; Gallaudet Leadership Institute; California Department of Rehabilitations DHH Advisory Committee; Holy Angels Church of the Deaf; National Association of the Deafs Captioned Media Program; and CSU, Northridges DHH Credential Advisory Committee.

Tomás is trilingual, and fluent in Spanish, English, and American Sign Language. He has used these skills as a trilingual interpreter, translator, and parent instructor in educational and other settings.

Dr. García was born in Compton, California with a severe hearing loss and progressively lost it through the course of his early childhood. Tomás hearing loss was not new to his family. On his mothers side, he already had several cousins who communicated in American Sign Language. Having a Deaf grandfather and a mother with a severe hearing loss allowed Tomás to face the world with a significant amount of support. Dr. Garcías first language was Spanish. Day by day, night by night, he learned to speak, read, and write Spanish fluently. Upon entering school, he learned American Sign Language and English simultaneously.

Dr. Garcia has given a number of professional presentations at conferences and workshops. Examples of work in this area include presentations on integrating technology into the classroom, using the Captioned Media Program, using the Internet to enhance the deaf education curriculum, family values and deaf children, multicultural issues in deaf education, and various transition topics. At present, he is a sought-after and renowned keynote presenter.

Dr. Garcia has published a Health Curriculum, Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness; an article for NAD Mag, La Promesa de Un Tesoro; and has written for the news publication of the Greater Los Angeles Association of the Deaf (GLAD).

Tomás received his doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University in the Spring of 2003. Additionally, he holds a Masters degree from California State University, Northridge in Deaf Education and two Bachelors degrees from California State University, Dominguez Hills in Spanish Language & Literature and Chicano/Chicana Studies. Lastly, Dr. García holds teaching and administrative services credentials.

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