Syndie White was named Palm Beach County's Teacher of the Year for 2020. She is a STEM certified math and science teacher at Elbridge Gale Elementary in Wellington. (Photo courtesy of Syndie White)(Scott Luxor / Contributor)
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White teaches math and science at Elbridge Gale Elementary in Wellington. She is a nationally certified STEM education teacher with a master’s degree. She was also named “Math Teacher of the Year” in 2019 by the Palm Beach County Council of Teachers of Math.
When asked about what she thinks makes her classroom special, White doesn’t talk about engineering or math scores.
“We talk a lot about courage in the classroom,” she said. “We talk a lot about vulnerability, sympathy and courage, as well as what that looks like. I’ve created a space where students can be brave, without risk of being made fun of or being ridiculed.” Those are the qualities of teaching that White values the most.
White has some basic guidelines in her classroom. “Rule 1 is to respect the ideas of others. Rule 2 is to use your words to build people up. Rule 3 is to show real courage. Rule 4 is to use your time to produce your best,” she said.