Carolyn White
Director of Mathematics Programs, Rice University School Mathematics Project
Resource website
Carolyn is a native Houstonian and received education from elementary to high school in Houston ISD. She attended Texas Southern University and received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1970. After participating in a Ford Foundation Grant to train Mathematics Teachers in 1972, she chose to start working on a Master's Degree in Elementary Mathematics as she taught elementary mathematics in Houston ISD. She received a Master of Education in Elementary Mathematics grades 1-8 from Texas Southern University in 1974.
Before joining the RUSMP team, Carolyn spent 39 continuous years of service to Houston ISD. Thirty six of the years included classroom assignments in grades 4 to 6. She had a wonderful time challenging students and participating in various educational programs such as: Texas Future Problem Solving, Odyssey of the Mind, Number Sense, Junior Achievement Exchange City, and Robotics with NASA. The remaining three years of her career were spent as a Trainer and Mathematics Coach in Houston Independent School District's Professional Development Services. Her trainings and coaching empowered teachers to have the confidence to teach mathematics and nurture students to achieve at high academic levels regardless of their backgrounds. The highlight of her career was being awarded the Houston Area Teacher of the Year by Rotary Club of Houston for the 2001-2002 school year.
In 1998 Carolyn started as a Master Teacher for RUSMP. She joined the RUSMP staff in 2008 as the Associate Director of Elementary and Intermediate. She serves as a curriculum specialist, liaison for the Mathematics Project in collaborative curricular projects, and as a Master Teacher for various departmental programs.
Carolyn's family includes her late husband Jesse and daughter Courtney who is an Attorney. Carolyn's hobbies include: Sudoku, gardening, bargain shopping, and traveling throughout the United States and abroad.