Teach Humans, Not Just Content
Great educators know that content is the vehicle, but the passenger is always a human being. When we focus on the student first, the learning follows.
My husband is a high school history teacher, and he absolutely loves history. But what makes him exceptional isn’t just his content knowledge — it’s the way he lights up when his students connect the dots, think critically, and become curious consumers of information. Sure, he puts on a great show in class — but the “show” is the hook, the connection point. It’s how he draws students in and makes the content come alive for them
As a part of this series I had the pleasure of interviewing Monica White.
For more than 20 years, Monica White has been a driving force in transforming education. As the founder of Elevate Academy Career Technical Charter School, she has redefined student success in Idaho by blending academic instruction with hands-on career technical education, launching five schools since 2019. Monica’s innovative approach seamlessly connects classroom learning with real-world skills. When she brought Spark Brilliance to her educators, the impact was immediate: teachers felt re-energized, student engagement soared, and academic performance measurably improved. Now, through her upcoming book Spark Brilliance for Educators (May 6, 2025), Monica is co-launching a nationwide movement to empower teachers and transform classrooms.
Thank you for joining us. Our readers would enjoy discovering something interesting about you. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
My journey into education is both classic and a little surprising. I grew up in a family of educators, so stepping into that world felt natural. But truthfully, it wasn’t the academics that drew me in — it was the people. I’ve always been driven by relationships and the powerful impact a great coach or mentor can have. That’s what pulled me in.
Believe it or not, I actually started college as a music performance major. There’s something magical about being part of a symphony — every note, every musician coming together to create something bigger than themselves. But I quickly realized that while music is a team effort, most of the work happens in solitude. And I craved connection.
That realization pivoted me toward education, where I could coach — not just in sports, but in life. I became a high school basketball coach and P.E. teacher, and from there, the path kept unfolding. Each step — whether in the classroom, leading a school as principal, or shaping vision at the network level — deepened my belief in the power of helping people grow into the best version of themselves.
So how does a music major-turned-coach end up as the CEO of a charter school network? For me, it’s always been about purpose. When you’re grounded in the “why,” the “how” finds a way.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your teaching career?
Honestly, this question is harder than it seems — not because I don’t have stories, but because in education, the extraordinary becomes part of the everyday. The work is relentless. We see so much — things that would stop most people in their tracks — and somehow, we keep going. Over time, what others might call “interesting” becomes our normal.
I’ve witnessed students being stalked on their way home and had to act quickly to protect them. I’ve had kids come to school with nothing but the hope of getting a clean pair of socks. I’ve seen students self-sabotage, failing drug tests just before graduation because the world outside felt scarier than staying in school. I’ve had students sit in my office in tears after both their parents were incarcerated the night before. These aren’t one-off stories — they’re daily realities.
But here’s what really sticks with me: it’s not the crisis moments, it’s the transformation. The most powerful, most interesting stories are when a student decides to take control of their journey. When they shift from surviving to striving. When they stop seeing themselves as victims of circumstance and start seeing themselves as the author of their future.
The first time I truly witnessed this shift was early in my career. I was coaching and teaching, and one of my students — someone who had every odd stacked against her — showed up one day and just decided she was going to own her future. That day changed everything for her. And honestly, it changed everything for me too.
That moment cemented something deep for me: our influence as educators goes far beyond academics. We hold the power to guide students toward seeing what’s possible — even when they can’t see it for themselves yet. It’s a responsibility I’ve never taken lightly, and it’s what continues to fuel my work every single day.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Absolutely — this is a really exciting time. I’m the co-founder and CEO of Elevate Academy Network of Schools here in Idaho, and we’re growing fast. In June, we’ll break ground on our fifth school, and we’re already in talks with developers for our sixth. Every new school we open isn’t just another building — it’s a chance to serve more students, more families, and more communities that have traditionally been underserved.
Right now, we’re supporting just over 1,600 students across the state. Once these next two schools are fully up and running, we’ll be able to serve nearly 2,800 students. That’s not just a number — it’s a reflection of lives we can impact. Our entire model is designed to help students tap into their potential, regardless of where they come from. We believe in meeting students where they are and walking with them toward a future they may not have thought was possible.
On top of that, I’m collaborating with Jackie Insinger on something I’m really proud of — Spark Brilliance for Educators and a companion program called Spark Schools. These initiatives are built around a simple, research-backed framework that gives teachers practical tools to reduce burnout, build trust, and reconnect with their students — without piling more onto their already full plates.
And it’s working. We’ve seen real impact: stronger school culture, better student attendance, and even improved test scores. It all starts by helping educators lead with connection and clarity. When teachers feel seen, supported, and equipped, the ripple effect on students is powerful.
This work isn’t just exciting — it’s transformative. And I’m incredibly grateful to be part of it.
How would you rate the results of the US education system?
The current state of education is complex, and trying to rate it with a single number oversimplifies what’s really happening. There are places doing phenomenal work, and others facing major challenges. I think the more meaningful questions are: Are we creating environments where all students can succeed? And are we supporting educators with what they need to get us there?
We often look at international rankings like the PISA assessment to measure how we’re doing globally. But those comparisons can be misleading. In the U.S., we test all 15-year-old students — regardless of background, grade level, or school type — while some countries test only a small, more select population. So we’re not always comparing apples to apples.
More importantly, tests like PISA don’t fully capture what matters most. They miss the human side of education — the relationships, the growth, the resilience we help students build every day. And in our rush to “fix” the system, we’ve sacrificed some of the developmental pieces that are essential to long-term success. That hasn’t solved our problems — it’s just created new ones.
Instead of chasing rankings, we need to focus on building schools where students feel connected, seen, and inspired — and where teachers feel empowered to lead with clarity and purpose. That’s the kind of system that changes lives.
Can you identify 5 areas of the US education system that are going really great?
Absolutely — despite the challenges, there are some truly exciting and encouraging things happening in education across the country:
A. The Charter School Movement is Driving Innovation
Charter schools have opened the door for fresh thinking. They’ve created room for schools to break from a one-size-fits-all model and design environments that truly meet the needs of every student. From specialized programs to unique school cultures, this movement has brought energy and creativity to how we think about what school can be.
B. Healthy Competition is Raising the Bar
In many communities, the presence of both charter and traditional public schools has created a productive kind of competition. It pushes everyone to do better — to be more responsive, more student-centered, and more focused on outcomes. At its best, this leads to higher-quality education across the board.
C. The People in the Profession are Inspiring
I’ve had the privilege of visiting schools across the country, and what always stands out to me is the people. Educators — regardless of the type of school they work in — are some of the most dedicated, passionate, and hardworking professionals I’ve ever met. And they keep showing up for kids, even as the profession has faced growing criticism and pressure. Their commitment is nothing short of heroic.
D Technology is Enhancing Personalization
We’re finally beginning to harness technology in ways that genuinely support student learning. From real-time data to targeted interventions, digital tools are helping us personalize education like never before. Whether it’s acceleration, remediation, or access to new content, students now have more options to learn in ways that work best for them.
E. Models are Shifting Toward Real-World Learning
There’s a growing recognition that learning doesn’t just happen in desks and rows. Across the country, schools are beginning to value mastery over seat time and are expanding opportunities for students to engage with real-world experiences — whether that’s through internships, hands-on projects, or career exploration. These evolving models are helping students connect learning to life in meaningful ways.
Can you identify the 5 key areas of the US education system that should be prioritized for improvement? Can you explain why those are so critical?
There’s no shortage of things we could focus on in education — but if we want to create meaningful, lasting change, these five areas need to rise to the top:
A. Strengthening the Talent Pipeline
We are facing a critical shortage of talented teachers and school leaders. The work is demanding, the pay often doesn’t reflect the responsibility, and burnout is high. We need to invest in pathways that attract, develop, and retain high-quality educators — because strong schools are built by strong professionals. Without passionate, capable people leading our classrooms and buildings, real change isn’t possible.
B. Prioritizing Early Literacy
Literacy is the foundation of all learning. If a child struggles to read, every other subject becomes an uphill battle. We have to get upstream — starting with early childhood and even parent education. Helping families build pre-literacy skills at home, ensuring students enter kindergarten ready, and supporting our teachers with evidence-based reading instruction can change the entire trajectory of a student’s life. Early wins in literacy are life-changing.
C. Reclaiming the Purpose of Education
The U.S. education system is experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. With so many states, districts, and local values in play, the definition of success varies wildly depending on where you are. Is the goal college for all? Career readiness? Civic engagement? It’s a strength that we’re diverse — but the lack of shared vision makes alignment difficult. If we want to move forward, we have to wrestle with the big question: What is the true purpose of education in America?
D. Addressing Teacher Burnout
We’ve placed enormous expectations on our educators without removing anything from their plates. They’re navigating increasingly complex classroom dynamics — discipline issues, mental health needs, school safety threats — all while trying to meet academic standards and mandates. It’s not sustainable. We need to redefine the role of the teacher and give them the tools, time, and trust to focus on what matters most: building relationships and helping students grow.
E. Making Higher Education More Accessible
While this technically sits beyond K–12, we can’t ignore the impact of postsecondary education access. College has become increasingly out of reach for many families — not just financially, but also in terms of perceived relevance or attainability. We’re losing brilliant, capable students because the system feels out of touch or out of reach. Whether it’s trade programs, community college, or four-year degrees, we need to open doors and reduce barriers.
Can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Know To Be A Highly Effective Educator?” Please share a story or example for each.
Absolutely. After more than two decades in education — as a teacher, coach, principal, and now CEO — I’ve seen what sets great educators apart. These five truths stand out to me as foundational to being highly effective in this work:
A. Teach Humans, Not Just Content
Great educators know that content is the vehicle, but the passenger is always a human being. When we focus on the student first, the learning follows.
My husband is a high school history teacher, and he absolutely loves history. But what makes him exceptional isn’t just his content knowledge — it’s the way he lights up when his students connect the dots, think critically, and become curious consumers of information. Sure, he puts on a great show in class — but the “show” is the hook, the connection point. It’s how he draws students in and makes the content come alive for them.
B. Connection is the Foundation
As Rita Pierson said, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” But I’d take it a step further: they don’t learn from people who don’t see them. I once had a student who did everything in their power to disappear. They sat in the back, avoided eye contact, never engaged. I watched for a few weeks, then found them alone at lunch and just sat down — not to talk about grades or school, but to talk about life. Eventually, they told me about an experience in elementary school where they’d been humiliated by a peer and felt unsupported by their teacher. Since then, their strategy was to stay small and stay quiet.
Over time, through small conversations and intentional trust-building, they started to re-engage. By the end of the semester, they were thriving. That transformation didn’t start with a lesson plan. It started with connection.
C. Content and Pedagogy Still Matter
Relationships come first, but what we teach and how we teach it still counts.
I once asked a student to summarize a paragraph. What I got back was a well-written opinion piece — completely missing the point of the assignment. That moment was humbling, because it reminded me that I had assumed too much. I hadn’t clearly defined what “summarize” meant or modeled the process.
Highly effective educators are always thinking a step ahead. They anticipate misconceptions, know the learning progression, and ensure that their instruction is clear, scaffolded, and purposeful.
D. Make Learning Visible
The best educators don’t just teach — they guide. They articulate what students are learning, why it matters, and how they’ll get there.
Over my 25 years in education, the most impactful teachers I’ve seen were laser-focused on clarity. They made learning intentions visible, helped students reflect on their progress, and normalized the struggle that comes with real learning.
John Hattie’s research on visible learning and the “learning pit” has deeply influenced my thinking. When students understand that cognitive conflict is part of the journey — and that building dendrites takes effort — they become more resilient, more motivated, and more successful.
E. Use Data as a Tool for Empowerment
Highly effective educators are constantly checking for understanding — not just at the end of a unit, but in real time. They use data to adjust, reflect, and re-engage.
A colleague of mine was struggling to get students to take ownership of their learning. So she created personal data dashboards for each student, tucked into their notebooks. Suddenly, those students saw their progress. Small wins started to matter. Their effort increased — not because someone told them to try harder, but because they could see that their effort was working.
The best teachers don’t hoard the data. They share it, they discuss it, and they invite students into the process. That’s where ownership begins.
What would you suggest needs to be done to attract top talent to the education field?
To attract top talent into education, we need to restore the deep respect this profession deserves. Teaching is one of the most meaningful and impactful careers out there, yet in recent years, it has too often become a target in political debates. That narrative has made it harder to recruit and retain the kind of passionate, skilled individuals our schools need.
We have to start by treating education like the profession it truly is. That means competitive pay — especially for early-career teachers. In some areas, new teachers are still earning under $50,000 a year, even with a college degree. That’s not just a financial issue — it sends a message about how we value the work.
But compensation alone isn’t enough. We need to create conditions where teachers can thrive: manageable class sizes, adequate resources, strong professional development, and real support for the challenges they face in and outside of the classroom.
Most teachers enter the field driven by purpose — they want to make a difference. We have to honor that commitment not by asking more of them, but by giving more to them: more respect, more support, and more recognition of the critical role they play in shaping our communities and our future.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
One of my favorite life lesson quotes is from Mother Teresa:
“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
That quote stopped me in my tracks — and it’s shaped how I approach both my work and my life ever since.
I remember the moment it all clicked. I had just finished my Ed.S degree, was working in a high-stress leadership role, and had already convinced myself that a doctoral program was the next step. I felt like I needed that degree to prove my worth in the education world.
So one evening, I sat down on the couch, opened my laptop, and started my application. My son — who was just 7 at the time — looked up at me and said, “Mom… tell me you’re not going back to school.” That tiny sentence hit me like a freight train.
In that moment, I realized I was pouring so much energy into trying to change the world through my career — but possibly at the expense of the one place where my presence mattered most. I slowly closed my laptop and never hit submit on that application. And the very next day, I stumbled across that quote.
I wouldn’t say I slowed down entirely — I’m still deeply passionate about my work — but I did start making more intentional choices. I began to re-prioritize, to recognize that impact at home and impact in the world don’t have to be at odds. That quote gave me permission to realign, and it’s stayed with me ever since.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?
This one’s easy: Alecia Moore — better known as P!NK.
She’s someone I’ve long admired, not just for her incredible talent, but for how she shows up in the world. She’s bold, authentic, and unapologetically herself. I’d love the chance to pick her brain about how she balances it all — being a global entertainer, raising kids, nurturing her marriage, standing up for causes she believes in, and even running a vineyard on top of it all.
There’s a lot of wisdom in how she leads her life. She seems to live with heart, grit, and purpose — all while staying deeply grounded in who she is. That kind of balance, especially in the spotlight, is rare. I’d be honored just to share a cup of coffee and learn from the way she thinks, leads, and lives.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-white-3326b92a/
https://www.instagram.com/monicawhite_75/?next=%2F
Thank you for a meaningful conversation. We wish you continued success with your mission.
Monica White Of Elevate Academy: “Teach Humans, Not Just Content” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.