Inspiring and warmly human, Salome Thomas-EL is a true hero. His lecture, “I Choose to Stay: A Teacher’s Fight for America’s Inner City Schools” is moving and full of hope, and proves beyond a doubt that a commitment to teaching in the public schools can result in excellence and success for children most of society has abandoned.

Teacher Salome Thomas-EL first learned he had been promoted and transferred to another school in November of 1997. He had been a teacher at Roberts Vaux Middle School in Philadelphia’s inner city since 1989. The promotion came because he had not only helped to improve morale and discipline at his school, but he had taught children to play chess- they went on to win local and national competitions. Besides a $20,000 raise, he would have authority to make changes and greater opportunities to influence a larger number of students. He turned down the promotion.

“I can’t leave my students,” he said. “What happens if they come in on Monday and I’m not here? They’ll say ‘He left because of the money,’ and I don’t want them to think that way. I’m the only male role model these kids have. I want them to know at least one black male who is committed to staying.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger was so impressed by Thomas-EL during a visit in 1999 that he “came bahhhk” in 2000. His foundation awarded the school a $20,000 grant.

Salome Thomas-EL was born and raised in the inner city of Philadelphia and has been a teacher in the Philadelphia School District since 1987.  He received national acclaim as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School, where his students have gone on to win world recognition as Eight-Time National Chess Champions. Armed with only a chess board and a profound belief in their potential, Thomas-EL’s faith and commitment has motivated hundreds of children in Philadelphia to attend magnet high schools, major colleges and universities. 

Salome Thomas-EL is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. He is currently a doctoral candidate and has studied in Cambridge and London, England. He has received the Marcus A. Foster Award as the outstanding School District Administrator in Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania’s distinguished, Martin Luther King Award.  Philadelphia Magazine honored Salome Thomas-EL as the 2006 “Best Philadelphian”.  Mr. Thomas-EL frequently appears on C-SPAN, CNN and NPR Radio.

Salome Thomas-EL is married and lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two young daughters. He is the former Principal of John F. Reynolds Elementary School in North Philadelphia and the author of the best-selling book, “I Choose to Stay”. The Walt Disney Company recently purchased the movie rights to “I Choose to Stay”.  His second book, “The Immortality of Influence” (foreword written by actor Will Smith), was released in May 2006 and stresses the importance of leadership, parenting, mentoring and service to others.

Currently, Thomas-EL is principal at the Russell Byers Public Charter School in Philadelphia and coordinates after-school chess programs in the School District. Mr. Thomas-EL has continued his life-inspiring chess and tutoring programs at Vaux and Reynolds.  As part of his commitment to opening the world up to show his students that there are other ways to be than those to which they have been exposed, Thomas-EL takes them to visit colleges and then attends their graduations. Reflecting on how it feels to see a young person he has mentored walk down the aisle toward a real future instead of to an early grave, Thomas-EL has said: “I’ve been to too many funerals; I need to go to more graduations.”