End of Gallery
Select your language
Principal's Message
Greetings Dorothy Thomas Families! I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Principal of Dorothy Thomas Exceptional Center. As I enter my fourth year as Principal at Dorothy Thomas, I am excited about the upcoming school year and continuing to ensure DT is a safe haven of opportunity and growth for all of our students, both academically and socially. Working in conjunction with faculty, staff, parents/guardians, and community partners ensures we come together with one goal in mind...to support the whole child. Together, we grow and nurture each individual child.
Kelly Simmons, Principal
School Highlights
A One-of-a-Kind Facility in Florida
The center is the first of its kind in the state—a modern, model school built specifically for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in grades K–12
Purpose-Built, Therapeutic Learning Environment
Designed to be supportive and safe, the building minimizes auditory and visual distractions, fostering a space where students can thrive both academically and emotionally
Programs
Core Curriculum Coverage
Students receive instruction across all four core curriculum areas—typically including reading, writing, math, and science
Engaging Electives
To encourage engagement and growth, the center offers elective courses such as: Family and Consumer Science (e.g., cooking), TV production studio, Music, art, and science lab courses.
Incentive-Based Learning Environment
The center employs behavior-based rewards—students earn privileges like time in the TV studio or in the TERP room (a space with game consoles and game tables) for demonstrating positive behavior