Thompson, W. John
(born: 1945)Thompson was born in North Carolina. In 1991, he became the first African American Deputy Commissioner Chief of Staff at the Kentucky Department of Education. He was also the first African American superintendent of Tulsa, Oklahoma schools in 1997. For more see J. Luke, "N.C. Educator Hired as Deputy Commissioner," Lexington Herald-Leader, 07/23/1991, Main News section, p.A1; and S. James, "Superintendent: Civil Rights Leader Blazed Path," Tulsa World, 01/15/1997, West Tulsa Zone section, p.5.