Devin White: new assistant principal at Sheldon R-8

Friday, July 22, 2016
Devin White is the new assistant principal for the Sheldon R-8 district. Coming from being a physical education teacher and wrestling coach at Nevada, he begins his new duties Aug. 1. Johannes Brann/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

"I've got a rather strange job description," said Devin White, new assistant principal for the Sheldon R-8 school district following the July 12 board meeting. "Yes, I'm in charge of school discipline and I'm the athletic director and I'm to assist the principal as she revises our district curriculum over this coming school year."

"But the superintendent has informed me that my job also includes assisting the custodian in whatever needs to be done," said White.

If the assistant principal needed proof that Superintendent Jason Irwin was serious about this, White learned on the 12th that it was Irwin who had painted most of the main hall and cafeteria the prior week.

"I made sure his job description included a clause that says, 'and any duties as assigned,'" said Irwin. "And I'm serious. We can't afford to hire someone for every single thing. I've mowed lawns, fixed faucets and done whatever needs to be done and he will too! I believe leadership begins with service."

White was born and raised in Nevada, graduating from its high school in 2003. He received his Bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern State University and in 2012, a Master's degree in educational leadership from William Woods University in Fulton.

"Moving from being a teacher to being an administrator is a bit like switching from an actor in front of the camera to being a director behind the scenes," said White. "Having an educational impact on the students in your classes or on those you coach is one thing but now, through my work, I will get to do that for an entire school, for students and teachers."

White was asked about how he intends to approach discipline.

"From coaching I've learned to be sensitive to what the student needs," said White. "Some need me to be firm, some need to be challenged and others need to have someone show genuine interest in them and have a positive role model."

"An assistant principal is sometimes called the 'bad cop,'" related White. "But unlike the police, I'm not just about a particular behavior or incident, I'm here with that student five days a week, across an entire school year and hopefully for a number of years."

Becoming more animated White added, "Yes, there is a time to punish. But I find if you develop a positive relationship, you're far more likely to change behavior for the better and make it last."

White's wife Pamela is the teacher of gifted children in grades three through five in Nevada. Daughter, Taylor, is going into the seventh grade while son, Paytin, is five years old.

"While my official start date is August 1, I'm getting my office set up and I have worked with Mr. Irwin to make sure we have all the coaches in place," said White.

White himself will coach junior and senior high track. Softball and cross-country will be coached by Mike Galimberto, baseball by Matt Beatty, volleyball by Lisha Lamb with boys and girls basketball coached by new hire, Dusty Murray.

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