Growing up, Edith White always loved going to school. She was taught the value of education at an early age; her father was the superintendent of a high school in Mississippi, and he always had other teachers over the house. She wanted to contribute to that community, so she studied at Perkinston Junior College in 1968 and earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1970. During her studies, Ms. White was required to accrue hands-on experience as a student teacher. She was placed with a woman who quit before the end of the year, so Ms. White was asked to take over the class. She accepted the proposition, her first job in the field, and loved it. She knew she had made the right career choice.
As the years went on, Ms. White steadily honed her expertise in science, history, reading, and English. She obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi and certification as an elementary teacher in the state of Mississippi, and garnered hands-on experience in roles like teacher at Ouachita Parish Schools, Meridian City Schools, Lauderale County Schools, and Perry County Schools. Ms. White then became a middle school teacher at Hancock County Schools and the Pass Christian Public School District, as well as a teacher of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies and world geography at Coast Episcopal School. She officially retired in 2007.
Ms. White attributes her longevity and success in the aforementioned positions to her dedication to being someone her students could look up to and trust. She once had a former student ask her how she had such few discipline problems, and she told him the key is to be consistent. She takes special care to make sure she treats every child alike and to never make promises she can’t keep.
