“I attribute it all to Millersville”: Andrea White’s Career in Education

Since graduating in 1990, MU alumna Andrea White has developed an ongoing career in education as an elementary teacher and reading specialist. Over more than three decades, White has remained a "big believer" in instilling the love of reading in children and strives to teach the joys of reading to as many students as possible.

While attending Millersville, White studied elementary education and enjoyed the University's culture and sporting events. She attributes much of her career success to Millersville University, and remembers Dr. Yvonne King, former professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, in particular: "I had Dr. King for an elementary education course, and I absolutely loved her class. She made us work for sure, but I learned a lot from her."

From the beginning, White says she learned skills beyond what the curriculum covers. She notes flexibility as one of the most important skills in her teaching career, because learning environments are constantly evolving. White explained that she must remain flexible with herself, students, parents and fellow educators, and whatever the day may bring.

She says that the structure of Millersville's elementary education program was incredibly helpful for skill-building and offering students a hands-on experience: "Through the way everything was rolled out for us at Millersville, I was able to be in schools during all four years in combination with the courses," she says. "Since I was able to student teach in the School District of Lancaster, I was fortunate enough to get a job as soon as I graduated. I felt totally prepared to be a teacher because of my Millersville education."

White taught for seven years in the School District of Lancaster before joining the Reading School District, where she has taught for the past 29 years. She has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Lauretta Woodson Award for dedication to Teaching and the NAACP Individual Image Award for Education and Community Works. Additionally, White is a Lauer's Park Elementary School "Wall of Fame" Recipient and was a co-presenter at the 2026 National Association for School-University Partnerships Conference.

White's greatest passion is teaching her students reading skills, and she is now a reading specialist since earning a Master of Education degree in reading from Kutztown University earlier this year. "I teach in an urban setting, so we know how important it is to teach children to develop a love of reading and reading skills," she says. "That's my passion. We want to get as many books into our students' hands as possible. It is so important."

White recently partnered with Girl Scout Gold Award Winner, Miss Ilee Wright, on a project called "Red Knights Read to Succeed," which aimed to bring more books into the district's elementary schools through lending libraries. "The community knows of my love and passion for reading, leading her to reach out," says White. "Students were able to pick out books before school or during lunch, helping them grow their love for reading."

When asked what she loves most about teaching, White explains the joy she feels when parents are excited to see their children learning and growing in her classes. She loves when students return to share their successes and what they enjoyed in her classes, with many thanking her for instilling a love of reading. Today, some of her current students are children of past students, creating a full-circle moment for White.

An award-winning educator for over 35 years, White emphasizes how learning truly never stops. "I am constantly reading and studying as things change and evolve. I try to take as many training courses and professional developments as I can, even with 35 years of experience. Just like how we tell our students learning never stops, the same is true for teachers."

Her best piece of advice for future educators? "Find your drive and don't go it alone, as all teachers are willing to share and help. There are days when the journey is a little tough; rely on your tribe to help you through. Also, keep reading, studying, learning and staying flexible."