Amy White (née Buchanan), originally from Asheville, North Carolina, graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in family and consumer sciences, secondary education. She also completed an M.A. in educational media in 2015.
In high school, I swore I didn’t want to go to Appalachian. My best friend wanted to go though and finally convinced me to go with her to fall open house.
That day, I fell in love. It was like the leaves were falling in slow motion, the air smelled of the most perfect fall day. The chill in the wind made you take deeper breaths. The sun peeped through the trees with radiant beams - it was like a spotlight. I looked at my mom and said, “this is it.” I didn’t tour any other colleges, I stopped applying. My decision was made.
Currently, Amy is a teacher with Buncombe County Schools in Weaverville, North Carolina. She teaches Foods I and Food Sciences to grades 9 to 12, as well as ProStart, a national culinary prep curriculum. She is also the yearbook advisor for her school. “I am originally from Asheville, so I am truly a product of Buncombe County schools.”
Impacting Education in Her Community
Amy is making an impact on education in her community. She is involved in many professional organizations and works to mentor and inspire other family and consumer science teachers in North Carolina. She holds leadership positions with the North Carolina Association for Career Technical Education Family and Consumer Sciences Education division (NCACTE FACS) and the North Carolina Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (NC FCCLA) organization.
Amy notes, “I believe that if we, as educators, want our students to be involved and aspire to be lifelong learners, then we must model this behavior.”
Amy’s ProStart restaurant management team recently won first place in North Carolina. This win allowed the team to represent the state at the National ProStart Invitational, where they placed second in the nation. This was the best finish for any North Carolina ProStart team.
Amy White holding the NC ProStart 1st place trophy that she and her ProStart restaurant management team won in 2018. Photo submitted
Contributed by Rebekah Saylors
Amy White
