Dr. Thomas White is a native of Cherokee County. He graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1972. He holds a B.S. from Winthrop University and holds an M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. He’s been married for 49 years to his Blacksburg High School sweetheart, Cassie Anderson White. He has three children and ten grandchildren. He is a Ruling Elder at Grace Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, where he now lives.
Dr. White began his career teaching and coaching at R. S. Central High School in North Carolina. He was a teacher and coach at Evans Junior High and McCracken Junior High in Spartanburg before becoming principal at Landrum High School. In 1988, at age 34 and while principal at Landrum High, Dr. White joined the United States Air Force and attended Officer Training School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was a Distinguished Graduate earning a regular commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received the Keifer Award from his classmates for patriotism and esprit de corps. He was an airborne signals intelligence officer at Eielson AFB, Alaska, and served at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Dr. White’s family has a legacy of service. Several of his uncles served. His Uncle Lee Gilfillan lost his life in service during WWII and is buried in the American Cemetery in Luxembourg. Dr. White’s father served in the Army. His oldest son, Daniel, a pilot, is a Colonel in the Air Force, Head of the Management Department, and a Permanent Professor at the United States Air Force Academy. He was named Vice-Provost effective 1 July 2026.
After serving in the Air Force, Dr. White returned to education and was named principal at Gaffney High School in 1992. Since then, he has served as Director of Swofford Career Center and Principal at Boiling Springs High School, which was named Palmetto’s Finest in 2000. He was Coordinator for Accountability and Secondary Education in Spartanburg County School District One. In 2003, he was named Superintendent for Union County School District, and in 2007 he became Superintendent for Spartanburg County School District Seven. Dr. White “retired” in 2010 but continued to provide services to District Seven. In 2015, he “retired” again and began providing consulting services to school districts and companies. He returned to his native Cherokee County as Interim Superintendent in April 2024, serving until 31 December 2026. Dr. White continues to serve as an educational consultant and provides business development to Sossamon Construction Company.
Dr. White held many professional association leadership positions and received many honors and awards during his career in education. He is currently a member of the Board for the Noble Tree Foundation, where he serves as Treasurer.
Dr. White enjoys outdoor activities like fly fishing, hunting, and golf. He enjoys reading and learning new things. Most of all, he enjoys his church and his family – especially his grandchildren.