Salome Thomas-El
Member of Core Team Oz
Salome Thomas-EL — Principal EL, world-renowned educator, motivator and author has been summoned by The Dr. Oz Show, hosted by the highly admired heart surgeon and trusted health expert, Dr. Mehmet Oz, to serve as a member of Core Team Oz. Along with fashion and style expert Tim Gunn from Project Runway and fitness specialist Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser, Principal EL, as he is called both by his students and Dr. Oz, will be a recurring guest contributor during season one.
Salome Thomas-EL has been a teacher and principal at several award-winning Philadelphia schools for over twenty years. Born and raised in the inner city of Philadelphia, Principal EL received national acclaim as a teacher and chess coach whose inner city students have gone on to win world recognition as National Chess Champions. He has written two books, I Choose to Stay,and The Immortality of Influence.
As part of his commitment to opening the world up to show his students that there are other ways to live than those to which they have been exposed, Principal 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.”
For the past ten years he has traveled the country speaking at colleges and universities as well as elementary and secondary school organizations. His dedication and hard work both in his own schools and in the service of national and regional educational groups has made him one of the most in demand educational and community speakers in the country. Since he can do so many things, Principal EL is a unique package: he is able to address college students, educators, parents, community and business leaders as well as conduct school wide assemblies for children, teachers and staff. He is famous in the world of education for keynoting and in service trainings for educators and community people. Over the years, Principal EL has already motivated thousands of children and adults — teachers and parents alike. Like Dr. Oz, Principal EL’s purpose in life is to motivate America to live better from the inside out starting now. He believes he best serves the next generation by embodying and embracing the philosophy that education and hard work come before success. Dr. Oz has called Principal EL his "master motivator" to help change America, even declaring on his show that he had “fallen in love” with Principal EL!
Currently a doctoral candidate, Salome Thomas-EL has studied in Cambridge and London, England. Among his many awards, 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. Reader’s Digest Magazine honored Mr. EL as one of 19 American Icons inspiring the lives of others. He frequently appears on C-SPAN, CNN and NPR Radio. He is a national board member of the America’s Foundation for Chess and a consulting teacher and principal in school districts across the country
Thomas-EL is married and lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife and two young daughters. The Walt Disney Company optioned his best selling first book, I Choose to Stay. His second book, The Immortality of Influence (foreword by Will Smith), stresses the importance of leadership, service and parenting, and contains poignant, real-life tales of mentoring and making a difference in the lives of others.
Contact the lecture bureau for booking information, lecture schedules, speaking engagement questions and to check the availability of Salome Thomas-El appearing at your next special event.