As Renee White looks back on her 34-year career as a Catholic educator, the conversation returns to the word “gift” and the blessing of receiving a Catholic education.
“It’s not something that anybody can take away from you — your house, car and clothes — those things can all go away,” said White. “But the gifts that you receive as the result of an exemplary education not only makes a change in your own life from morning to night, but to all of the people who you touch, who then touch other people, who then touch other people.”
As an innovator, motivator, and can-do person who embraces challenge, White has touched the lives of many. She will retire this month as the diocesan assistant superintendent of schools of Catholic identity, enrollment and marketing.
“I have great gratitude to Renee for her many years of faithful, generous, dedicated service as a Catholic educator,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. “Her creativity is tremendous. The zeal, talents and expertise she has shared has been a great gift. We can only imagine the number of lives, especially student’s lives, she has touched and inspired throughout the years.”
“Renee White’s retirement marks the end of her tenure as someone with class, charisma and a perfectly timed sense of humor,” said Erin O’Malley, principal of St. Theresa Catholic School in Ashburn. “Her unwavering support for principals, schools, and the diocese has left an indelible mark of gratitude and admiration.”
When White was named assistant superintendent in 2011, after serving four years as principal of St. Luke Catholic School in Mclean, she immediately recognized that schools needed to improve their marketing. “I did a deep dive and went from school to school to say, ‘What is it that you need?’” she said. “Over the years I’ve done photo shoots with professional photographers to get the right kind of photographs that say joy — joy in learning, joy in spirituality, joy in service — because I do believe that Catholic schools are joyful places.”
White’s attention to detail is obvious, and one is immediately struck by her impeccably decorated office and fashionable wardrobe. “I’ve gone into schools and said, “Let’s clean this up. This front office does not speak professionalism. Let’s get rid of this, let’s get rid of that. Let’s do an institutional palette of colors here so it’s not like a patchwork,’ ” she said. “It’s looking at what you are saying about yourself and the school.”
“Renee is the queen of innovative ideas on school marketing,” said Annie Fernandez, principal of St. Michael Catholic School in Annandale. “You could always trust her if you needed a facelift for any area in your campus.”
But it was White’s love and unwavering support through personal tragedy that Fernandez will never forget. “From the time my husband was diagnosed with COVID, to his passing away and all through my grieving period, she supported me like an elder sister would,” said Fernandez. “She took over the role of acting principal and immediately took care of St. Michael students and faculty during the most difficult time of the pandemic.”
“It should be known how deeply devoted to her vocation in Catholic education she has been over the years,” said Joe Vorbach, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “She has done it all with a tremendous amount of grace and wonderful spirit that’s a great example for all the rest of us. She’s a doer. She gets stuff done on behalf of the church and the service of Catholic education.”
White’s duties in the diocese won’t end with her retirement. She is coordinating the Diocesan Golden Jubilee Mass Sept. 5 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, marking the half-century of the diocese and the renovations to the cathedral and the new altar.
“We are working like busy little bees to ensure that this is a beautiful and memorable event,” said White, who derives joy from even her most challenging assignments. “Joyful is what we’re called to be as Catholics. I cannot think of any other place where that would be possible than here.”
