Former prof named education deputy
On Nov. 1, Darrell White, a person with many connections to Utah State University, was named Utah’s education deputy.
White was born in Weber County and has lived in Utah most of his life. White said all of his professional career has taken place in Utah. He is a graduate of Ogden High School and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees at USU.
Recruited out of his short-lived retirement, White took over the position of Utah’s education deputy from Richard Kendell, who is now Utah’s commissioner of higher education. White said the first issue he will deal with will be funding education at the most reasonable level possible.
White was a superintendent for four different school districts. He was also a representative for all of Utah’s school districts. Teaching at USU, working for the University of Utah and teaching at the University of Hawaii were all jobs that White said helped build up his experience. Working on a variety of education-related committees has helped him learn more about the system of education, he said. White had a total of 43 years of experience before his retirement in July of 2002, and now he’s been put right back to work.
“The professors I have associated with over the years have been a great support,” White said.
One of the professors White associated with greatly was USU’s College of Education Dean Gerry Giordano. Giordano said he has known White for years.
“I think the world of that man,” Giordano said, calling White a high-powered individual.
Giordano said he met White six years ago while White was the superintendent for the Davis School District. Giordano said White was very concerned about USU students because he was looking into hiring USU graduates and he has a great concern toward all students.
“His integrity is as great of that of any person I’ve ever met in my life,” Giordano said. “He will follow through in any way to make sure students have a superlative education. He’s probably the most popular educational administrator because of his great sense of humor, his sensitivity to all those around him and his peerless work ethic.”
White said, “The greatest thing I learned [at USU] is that people are what really matter. How you interact with them and treat them has more to do with your success than many other things.”
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu