Ameca earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Winthrop University before starting her teaching career at Silver Bluff High School in New Ellenton, SC before returning home to Laurens to teach at Sanders Elementary/Middle School. Ameca earned the recognition of Teacher of the Year in 2001. In 2003, she received a Master of Arts Degree from Furman University in Educational Leadership and a Master of Education degree from Columbia College in Divergent Learning. Ameca worked as an Instructional Coach at Woodruff Primary School in Spartanburg School District 4 in Woodruff, SC. In 2005, she received her National Board Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts Early and Middle Childhood. She served as an assistant principal at Laurens Middle School. Ameca completed her Ph.D. in 2008 from Walden University in K-12 Education Administration. 

 

In 2008, she became the principal of E.B. Morse Elementary school in Laurens, SC, where she served for eight years. Ameca advanced her career to the district level when she moved into the position of Director of Research, Testing & Accountability. She received her superintendent certification from Lamar University. In 2018, she became the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Laurens County School District 55. In 2020, Ameca became the first female superintendent in Laurens County School District 55. Also in 2020, Ameca published her first children’s book titled You Can Be Anything!. Dr. Thomas is married to Ira Thomas, and they have three daughters: Lauren Elizabeth Thomas, Addison Victoria Thomas, and Makenzie Grace Thomas.