Upstate Parent's 2023 Educators Who Make A Difference: Chris White
English and Speech & Debate, Spartanburg High School
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When Chris White steps away from his career in education this year, it will no doubt be bittersweet. White teaches English at Spartanburg High School, and it has been his job for 40 years. He also teaches Speech and Debate and serves as Student Council Advisor.
White was born in Kingstree, and he came to Spartanburg in 1979 to attend Wofford College.
“After graduating from Wofford, I got a job teaching English and Public Speaking at Spartanburg High School,” he said. “I have loved every minute.”
Teaching speech and debate and public speaking have remained passions throughout his time in education.
“I don't care what career you go into,” he said. “You need to learn how to communicate. I want my kids to be able to say something and say it effectively. And we do all kinds of practices and all kinds of things in class to get them prepared for the real world and to know how to speak and when to speak. I love it.”
When White started teaching, he intended it to be a path to a different career, but life has a way of working out. In his case, both he and his students have benefitted from his steadfast work at Spartanburg High.
“I had the most wonderful English teacher in high school,” White said. “She was an amazing teacher who had the passion to teach. She inspired me. My first choice of careers, however, was law. At Wofford, I got involved with the Pre Law-Society. I was going to teach for five years, then go into law. I got bitten by the education bug and here I am 40 years later, still teaching and still loving it.”
Though he is retiring from one job, White insists that he will only slow down a little.
“I've never been a person to just sit,” he said. “Even with my teaching. I've always had two jobs.”
White taught classes for Virginia College for few years, and he worked in the radiology department at Mary Black Hospital for 10 years. Even in that varied field, he was often responsible for teaching and mentoring new employees. For now, he plans to continue working with Kids Upstate (formerly the Boys & Girls Clubs), which is a natural fit, and for Comfort Keepers Home Care, which he joined after losing his mother in 2021.
“I want to always be busy doing something for someone else,” he said. “When I am not working, which is rare, I love traveling. I love spending time with my family and friends. There’s nothing like family. I believe that everyone should spend as much valuable time as possible with the ones they love.”
They deserve our continued support and encouragement. Join us in celebrating these – and all – educators who make a difference in their schools and in our community.
Click on the links below to learn more about each of our 10 Educators Who Make a Difference
Jeannée Abercrombie Johnson: McCracken Middle School Assistant Principal
Jeremy Brown: East North Street Academy, Kindergarten
Anne Louise Greer: Spartanburg Day School, Honors, AP and Forensic Chemistry
Shannon Moore Hill: Lake Forest Elementary School, K4
Ashley Mangum: Chandler Creek Elementary, First Grade
Ebony Nye: The Sterling School, Second Grade
Staci Purvis: Berea Elementary and Gateway Elementary, Visual Arts
Jessica Styles: Skyland Elementary, Second Grade
Larissa Toomey: Five Oaks Academy, Middle School Math
Want more? CLICK HERE for Educators Who Make a Difference Main Page
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Upstate Parent's 2023 Educators Who Make A Difference: Chris White
