Teri White is the incoming superintendent of Douglas County School District. Photo/Provided

By Kathryn Reed

By filling the superintendent vacancy the Douglas County School District board created another.

Teri White on May 28 was selected to replace Lisa Noonan as superintendent. White has worked for DCSD since last summer as director of human resources.

“I love being part of a district that is as good as ours. And the opportunity to take it even further is exciting. I’m intrigued,” White told Lake Tahoe News.

The 54-year-old has been in education since obtaining her bachelor and master’s in Arizona. She has taught at the fifth- and sixth-grade levels, been an administrator at the middle and high school levels, and at the main office of two other Nevada districts.

White said she reluctantly fell into administrative work while teaching at a middle school. The principal tapped her to fill in. What she discovered was that work gave her more freedom and opportunities to work with children.

Eighteen years ago she and her husband moved to Northern Nevada to be closer to family. She started in Dayton working as a vice principal and principal.

She was superintendent in Mineral County from 2010-12 and associate superintendent in Lyon County from 2006-09.

It was in Mineral County that she and Noonan first worked together.

“She has done a wonderful job for us,” Ross Chichester, board president, told Lake Tahoe News.

He said the board liked White’s long resume of administrative work.

Four candidates were interviewed.

The contract is still being worked out. It’s expected White will take the helm in July. Noonan is leaving the first week of August. This will give a one-month transition and some time for White to start the process to find someone to take her old job.

A collaborative approach to dealing with issues and open-door policy are a couple of her strong suits, she said.

“I’m a teacher at heart. The kids are at the forefront of my decisions,” White said. “I value our employees, but we need to put kids first. Sometimes that causes difficult decisions to be made.”

When White isn’t dealing with education matters she can often be found outdoor playing – skiing, kayaking and scuba diving are some of her favorite sports. Traveling is another passion, as well as spending time with family.