By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -
MIAMI SHORES | LaTonya White believes every school principal and educational leader needs a champion. When she joined the Office of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Miami in July 2024 as the new associate superintendent of teaching and learning, she made it her mission to be that champion.
“That’s what I am hoping that I can accomplish and do. I can definitely relate to what they’re experiencing. Having served for 17 years as a building level principal, you make some mistakes, you learn from them, you stretch from them, and you grow from them,” White said in an interview with the Florida Catholic.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
LaTonya White sits at her desk in the Office of Catholic Schools in the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Miami. White is the associate superintendent of teaching and learning, and began in her position July 1, 2024.
With 27 years in Catholic education, White began her career in her home Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee. She taught at her alma maters, St. Paul School and Bishop Byrne Middle and High School. At Bishop Byrne, she worked with Donald Edwards, who was principal, and now serves as the Archdiocese of Miami’s associate superintendent of schools.
“Dr. Edwards has been such an inspiration and a mentor who has helped shape and form me as a Catholic educator. We have remained in that collegial spirit, as well as Dr. Rigg,” she said, referring to archdiocesan schools superintendent Jim Rigg.
Encouraged to advance her career, she started her master’s degree and joined a leadership program by the Diocese of Memphis. As she neared graduation, the diocese offered her a principal position at St. Augustine School, which she accepted despite her reluctance to leave her classroom. She served there for seven years before moving to Little Rock, Arkansas, to become principal at St. Edward School, a 125-year-old school.
“One thing that I have noticed in my pattern is that I have served schools that have a long history,” said White.
The school had a population that was half Hispanic, part Anglo, and a small percentage of Black students. She wanted to be an inspiration to all her students, especially her Black students.
“I’ve always wanted to give students who look like me the possibility and opportunity to know that they can,” said White.
After four years, White moved south to serve as administrator of St. Mary Star of the Sea Basilica, in Key West, Florida. There she discovered her gift of serving other leaders.
“I needed a type of shift, of refreshment. I called it a retreat. And the community at the Basilica was so warm and welcoming. It was a great place for me to continue,” she said.
For the first time in 12 years, White was not leading schools in need of a turnaround. After years of helping schools rebrand and refocus, only to see them close, she found a contrast with the Archdiocese of Miami, where schools were growing steadily.
“That’s what I love about the Archdiocese of Miami, its growth, the commitment, the innovation, the diversity. It’s a different climate that we serve. I love that the Catholic faith is the center of what we do, and why we do it,” White said.
After finishing her doctorate, White moved to Tampa to become principal of St. Peter Claver, the oldest continuously operating Black Catholic school in Florida, with a history of over 130 years. There, she revitalized the school and engaged the community in Catholic education.
Again, White helped a school make necessary changes and reestablish its mission, while also getting the community excited about Catholic education. She served for over three years, when Edwards approached her with her current job offer on behalf of the Office of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Miami.
“I feel that every piece of my journey has prepared me for this role and I’m happy to serve in this capacity. Right now, at this time in my life, it has come full circle,” she said.
White recalled her parents, who taught her and her five siblings to be loyal and committed to the mission of wherever they served, especially remaining faithful to the missions of the Church.
“I want to serve and help grow the Church through this ministry of education, because I do see it as a ministry. As a leader, I know we’ll have some bumps along the way, but we can iron them out because we know that God has called us to this ministry and He has really prepared us,” White said.
