Alyssa Ridenour
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Patrick White is a curriculum writer at James Madison Preparatory High School (JMPHS) and has been in the education field for 28 years. Of those 28 years, he has spent 22 of them in the classroom and six of them writing curriculum and developing year-long plans for educators. Curriculum is the process that educators use to deliver education to their students, and having that process carefully planned out is critical to a child's success in school.
White was drawn to the education field due to familial influence and a passion for education. He has a lively personality, and one can tell by the tone in his voice that he loves his job. When White joined the education field, he followed in the footsteps of his sister, mother and grandmother.
White explained that his favorite part of the job is the personal aspects of education and the connections he gets to build with the students. White also made mention of the recent struggles for educators amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. The sudden shut down of schools stunned everyone and stole a sense of closure for many educators who didn't get to say goodbye to their seniors or watch them graduate. Adjusting to the changes and aspects of online schooling has altered the way that teachers make lesson plans. The entire ordeal forced an evolution in the way education is provided. White explained this to be the primary challenge for educators right now. He spoke about how COVID-19 accelerated schools into an electronically-focused educational process.
“As teachers, it's the people we keep in our corner, the people we keep on our side, that can either make us or break us in our careers,” said White. “I've been very fortunate to have mentors who have taken enormous amounts of time in my career to help develop who I am as an educator. My career spans two decades, two states and multiple schools from rural Worth County to inner-city Atlanta. Throughout my years, these pivotal individuals have taught me to take risks in my teaching style and in my career choices. As a history teacher, I have the ability to teach my students how to be truth seekers by developing critical thinking skills, developing strong standards of judgement and having an open heart for all individuals from all walks of life. As a mentor to my students, I have seen their dreams become realities, and throughout all the years, these same individuals who we pour so much time, energy, sweat and tears into, bring those same characteristics out in me.”
White graduated from Lowndes High School and went on to earn his Bachelors of Science in education from Valdosta State University in 1998. He later continued his education and earned a master's degree in education administration from Lamar University in December of 2020.
White is married to Katherine “Kitty” White, who is a lifelong resident of Madison County. Together, they have five kids: 26-year-old Abigail, 24-year-old Clay, 24-year-old Hannah, 22-year-old Kendall and 12-year-old William. They also have a three-year-old grandchild, Brantley. “He's my rockstar,” said White with excitement. White's hobbies include surf fishing and trips to the beach.