As an educator, school administrator, educational researcher, author and scholar, Dr. White has theoretical as well as practical experience in capacity building of teachers and school leaders to maximize their success and, subsequently, the success of their students. Dr. White has taught at every level–middle school, high school, community college, and university; she even substituted in elementary schools for two years. Consequently, the leadership and guidance she offers regarding educator effectiveness is based on not only theory but also personal practice and experience.

Diana’s passion is for pre-service and novice teachers. Researchers, as well as the National Center for Education Statistics cite anywhere from 20% to 44% of new teachers quit the profession within the first five years of service. These sources also note that high quality mentors make a significant difference in a teacher’s decision to exit or remain in the classroom. Dr. White calls on her education and decades of experience to help teachers cultivate the skills necessary to build positive teacher-student relationships, manage their classrooms, and find joy in the process of teaching and learning.

Dr. White knows that teacher support and mentorship must also come from school leadership; that’s why she actively supports and coaches principals and campus leaders to realize their strengths and use them to foster teachers’ self-efficacy. Diana knows both teachers and administrators need to be given research based, proven, practical strategies and applications they can start implementing immediately – without throwing anything out that is already working for them and their school community.

Dr. White believes that by focusing on administrators and teachers, students and their families will reap the benefits. With a background in urban and multicultural education, Diana understands that students come into our classrooms and schools with a variety of experiences and backgrounds and that the adults in the building must create a safe, welcoming, inclusive space for ALL students to grow and develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically.

Diana is dedicated to helping educators be successful through relationship building, motivation, inspiration, humor, stress management, and implementation of best practices as well as critical thinking to discover creative new ways of knowing and being.

A note from Dr. White: One of my favorite quotes is by an author named Richelle E. Goodrich: “You are here to make a difference, to either improve the world or worsen it. And whether or not you consciously choose to, you will accomplish one or the other.” As educators we impact the life of so many individuals over the course of our career. We must make a conscious effort to make that impact positive, meaningful, and edifying. My mission is to be for teachers and administrators what they must be for students and their families–a positive difference maker.