Doug White
A lifelong educator who has worked in both the public school and private school sectors, most recently as a guidance counselor at Branford High School. Doug's caring, open and welcoming counseling style has made him popular among his students during his twenty-year career at Branford High School. His unique personality and sense of humor enable him to reach many students who have not had meaningful connections with adults in a school environment in the past. He is able to get through to many of the less typical high school students who really can use a friend in their corner and Doug champions them all, always putting the individual student's best interests first. Kids know that Mr. White truly cares about them and they respond to that. One only needs to see students giving Doug an enthusiastic high-five at graduation during the procession to see the positive influence he has had in their lives!
I would like to nominate Douglas White for induction into Branford’s Education Hall of Fame. Doug White has a unique, personalized approach for each of his students attending Branford High School. Down to earth, not intimidating, but uplifting to all of his charges. He encourages his students with an inspired style and creative strategies that you rarely, if ever, find. His students, no matter their abilities, find success, personal growth, a connection and an ally in Doug White. Today, ask any student at BHS if they know Mr. White. Their response will be positive and with a smile. Really, how do you measure a great high school counselor? The number of his/her assigned students going to an Ivy League college/university. The number of his/her students that obtain a high school diploma. Doug made each student feel comfortable in their own skin and gave them self-assurance at a level that I have never witnessed before. So many more smiling faces. So many more successful students. Doug was also a counselor in ERACE, the regional adult education program, dealing with students that very often were tossed aside by their high schools. Those schools insisted on trying to put a round person in a square hole. Again, he applied his unique skill set to reach these disengaged students. The increased retention rate, academic success and graduation rate of these disconnected young people was unsurpassed, and nothing short of amazing. Doug also was as counselor for Branford Summer Studies helping students from almost everywhere. They came from a diverse group of public and private schools including West Haven, Hamden, Durham, Old Saybrook and out-of-state. He did an unbelievable job with each and every student. How often do students really look forward to meeting with their summer school counselor after knowing failure at their “day” school? All we ever saw was academic success and smiles on their faces.
Douglas White. BHS Guidance Counselor. Brightest most caring guidance counselor a family could ask for. We met him when our oldest son transitioned from WIS to BHS in 1999/2000. Been with him ever since. I know little of his resume other than he's a Bowdoin graduate but he has been our family's pilot, compass and student advocate. He always put the interests of children in the forefront. His tenure is long. Do the math, 250 students x years at BHS. He has guided 5000? plus students through the rocky reefs of high school and importantly the successful cast off. Each of the many are handled and guided as special and as individuals. He has become part of our family. We are honored as"Bs"to have been in Doug White's Guidance group for 13 years.