Augusta Prep hires Director of Digital Integration and Innovation

Mrs. White replaces Charlotte Ealick, who has served as Director of Technology since the 2012-13 school year. Mrs. Ealick began at Augusta Prep more than two decades ago, first working part-time in the Admissions office, before becoming a teacher. Mrs. Ealick played an instrumental role in preparing teachers to shift to online learning during the pandemic, adopt an online gradebook, and improve their cyber security knowledge. She also designed the technology footprint for the new W. Rodger Giles Institute for Inquiry. 

Mrs. White started at Augusta Prep in 2017 and has played an integral part in our computer science, robotics and technology programs. Last year, she was responsible for writing the E.E. Ford Foundation grant to equip our virtual reality lab in the new Giles Institute. She also received a $2,500 grant last year to support our space science program and facilitate our pursuit of a NASA CubeSat. Mrs. White also helped Augusta Prep win the College Board's AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women's access to AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) in 2021 and 2022.

Also, she helped bring the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program last year to Augusta Prep, allowing 10 students to chat with NASA Astronaut Steve Bowen.

"Mary is the quintessential Augusta Prep teacher with a growth mindset that leads to constant innovation in her classroom," Augusta Prep Head of School Derrick Willard said. "We are confident Mary will be an asset to the community in the new role - and fully live into the new title of Director of Digital Integration and Innovation. We wanted an innovator in this role, and we found the right person here on campus."

Mrs. White grew up in Springfield, Ill., later attending Montana State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Horticultural Science. She then attended Drexel University to obtain her master's degree in Library Information and Science. Upon graduation, she worked an internship at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield. She worked in oral history, paper archives and paper conservation, helping restore some of the old Lincoln papers.

Mrs. White worked for seven years as the librarian at the National Railway Museum in York, England. In 2015, she and her husband, Bill, moved to Augusta. Two years later, she began working at Augusta Prep, teaching AP Computer Science 'A' and Upper School Robotics. She also worked throughout the school integrating technology in classrooms. Soon after, an opportunity to teach 7th/8th grade technology arose.

When Mary first started the AP Computer Science 'A' class, she had just four students. Since then, she has grown the program to include AP Computer Science Principles, which has allowed her to reach out to Middle School students. She has also added a popular Upper and Middle School Cyber team, which competes in regular competitions.

Mrs. White said she's excited about taking on this new role at Augusta Prep.

"There are so many exciting developments happening every day in educational technology and the world at large," Mrs. White said. "I am eager to continue Augusta Prep's mission of preparing students to thrive in this dynamic era and to keep us at the forefront of technological pedagogy."