Ty White teaches chemistry at Willcox High School in Willcox, Arizona. He received his Bachelor of Arts in secondary education-chemistry from Arizona State University and his Master of Arts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education from the University of Arizona. In addition to being named the 2023 Arizona Teacher of the Year and 2021 Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year, White was also recently recognized as the 2022 National Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association.

White is a founding board member of the nonprofit InSimEd, an affiliate of Aerospace Education Corporation that creates industry-simulation challenges and provides financial support for underrepresented youth to participate in STEM competitions. Through InSimEd, White is the space settlement design coordinator for the Southwest region, providing students with interactive opportunities for team-building, critical thinking, and problem-solving through STEM. White is also the Chief Science Officers’ cabinet coordinator for southeast Arizona, and is collaborating with the Arizona Science Center, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Society for Science to form a rural community collaborative to design and deliver STEM training programs for teachers. 

Serving as a Noyce Borderlands Master Teacher fellow with the University of Arizona, White’s dedication to science education led to recognition as the 2020 American Chemical Society Teacher of the Year for both southeast Arizona and the Rocky Mountain Region. Once a rural student himself, White is passionate about ensuring rural schools have access to high-quality educational experiences, especially in STEM.