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Leadership

Dr. Joshua E.P. White
Principal

Dr. Joshua White is a native Floridian and grew up in rural Levy County (Bronson, FL) in Northcentral Florida. He attended the University of Florida (UF) for both undergraduate and graduate school. While at UF, Dr. White received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education (graduating with Highest Honors—Summa Cum Laude) in 2005, his Master of Music with a Major in Music Education in 2008, a graduate certificate in Educational Technology with a specialization in Curriculum & Instruction from the UF School of Teaching & Learning in 2011, his Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership degree in 2013, and finally his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in 2017.

Dr. White is in his seventh year at DeSoto County High School. He began his career in DeSoto as an assistant principal in 2018 and judiciously served in that role for two years. In July of 2020, he was promoted to principal and has proudly served in that capacity since then. Prior to his arrival in DeSoto, he worked for Alachua County Public Schools in Gainesville, FL for eleven years where he served as classroom teacher, music teacher, afterschool Strings Program Coordinator, interim curriculum resource teacher, behavioral resource teacher, Dean of Students, and principal intern. Additionally, he worked at the University of Florida, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education, as a Program Evaluator for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Administrative grant project. During his two-year tenure as a Program Evaluator with a focus on Curriculum & Instruction, Dr. White conducted monitoring evaluations throughout the State of Florida evaluating the effectiveness of afterschool & enrichment programs and facilitating technical assistance & training activities to 21st CCLC subgrantees.

Dr. White holds a Professional Educator’s Certificate from the Florida Department of Education for School Principal (All Levels), Educational Leadership (All Levels), Elementary Education (Grades K-6th), Exceptional Student Education (Grades K-12th), Music Education (Grades K-12th), and Family & Consumer Science (Grades 6th-12th). Dr. White has dedicated his career to helping students succeed through attaining the life-long benefits of education and academic success with an additional passion for assisting parents in helping their children to succeed in school and other educational endeavors. 

Mrs. Tammy McKee, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal

Mrs. Tammy McKee was born and raised in the mountains of NC and moved to FL in 2006. Mrs. McKee studied at Montreat College in Montreat, NC, where she received a BA in English, then at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY where she received a MA in English Literature, and at Concordia University in
Portland, Oregon, where she received her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Mrs. McKee has been in education for nearly 30 years, serving in a variety of positions, including high school English and Theater teacher, Instructional Coach, School-wide PBIS coach, and as an Assistant Principal. She has served on
several district and state level programs building curriculum and assessments and planning school improvement. Mrs. McKee is married to her best friend, Raymond and has three grown children and two grandchildren. Mrs. McKee is very excited to have this opportunity to serve as an assistant principal of
DeSoto High School.