Thomas Carey, PhD

USAFA Preparatory School

Prep School courses: Introductory General Chemistry; Introductory Physics; Preflight (College Success and Study Skills).

• Teach chemistry and physics with an emphasis on first-principles reasoning, quantitative problem solving, and laboratory work; develop lessons, assessments, and instructional materials and advise cadet candidates on Academy readiness.
• Course-directed Introductory Organic Chemistry (CHEM 230, Fall 2022) and guest-taught Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 243, Spring 2025) at USAFA.
• Course-directed regular-track Science (SCI) 143 and SCI 144, coordinating instructors and assessments for the full Prep School cohort of approximately 200 cadet candidates. In Spring 2023, simultaneously directed SCI 144 and taught a pilot study physics course.
• Course-direct SCI 132 Skills Chemistry for approximately 25-30 cadet candidates with the greatest academic need; previously directed SCI 134 Skills Track. Reworked instruction around explicit explanation, guided practice, frequent retrieval, and spaced repetition. Following the redesign, final-exam averages across two cohorts were nearly twelve percentage points higher than across the preceding three cohorts on similar exams.
• Use frequent checks for understanding and prompt extra instruction to address gaps. Hands-on practical examinations assess students’ independent execution of complex, multi-step tasks; approximately 80% of the course grade comes from supervised individual work; the remaining 20% is homework.

Colorado Springs School District 11

Board President since December 2025

• Chair the seven-member elected Board of a district serving over 23,000 students across approximately 60 schools. Set policy and strategic priorities, oversee the superintendent, and authorize a General Fund operating budget of approximately $353 million (FY 2026-27).
• Lead public meetings, agenda planning, and policy work sessions; coordinate Board deliberations with fellow directors and district leadership.
• Help set academic priorities and performance goals focused on student achievement, teacher practice, and public measures of progress; evaluate the superintendent against Board-adopted expectations.
• Oversee a systematic review of district policy and work with families, educators, administrators, and community members on public education and governance decisions.
• Write and speak publicly about school governance, academic standards, and education policy.

Adams State University

Courses: Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry; Organic Chemistry I; Introductory Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry. All included a full corresponding laboratory course.

• Designed and taught lectures, assessments, and laboratory activities across introductory, organic, and inorganic chemistry courses.
• Supervised four weekly laboratory sections and undergraduate teaching assistants; participated in junior-faculty mentoring and classroom observations.

University of Colorado Boulder

Courses: Organic Chemistry I and II; Organic Chemistry I and II for Majors, including laboratories.

• Held a teaching assignment every semester of doctoral study, taught laboratory sections, guest-lectured to classes of up to 200 students, and supervised undergraduate laboratory research; participated in the Graduate Teacher Program and earned teaching recognition.

University of Colorado Boulder

• Supported students in undergraduate chemistry alongside teaching and research responsibilities.

Center for Educational Opportunity

• Tutored first-generation college students in general and organic chemistry.