Adam Whitney
Mentor - Opal Class
Adam was born to teach. Coming from a family of teachers, Mr. Whitney knew from a very young age he wanted to be educated in a variety of interests and transfer this education to the young minds of a new generation. He has a B.A. degree in English Education from Texas State University where he graduated magna cum laude. Before his time at Texas State, Adam studied a number of subjects including aerospace engineering, music, sociology and ultimately the English language arts.
Adam’s education experience includes teaching in the Hays County School District, where he focused on 9th grade pre-AP English engaging students in a variety of literary forms and writing seminars. After Hays County, Mr. Whitney took up the opportunity to teach at a low income middle school in Del Valle School District, where he primarily worked with struggling 7th grade readers and writers, helping them to develop necessary skills to succeed at or above their potential as learners. He also coached football, basketball, and track for 7th and 8th graders. Mr. Whitney then left the realm of public school after meeting Christine Watson, founder of Be the Change Academy. There he taught students in a holistic manner more suitable to his ideals with regards to education. He has taught at Whole Life Learning Center since 2012, and loves the philosophy and work being done at this institution.
His other passions include his beautiful and loving wife Leia Downs, who he married in 2010, his two daughters, Arya and Tallulah, hiking with his dog, Finn, anything else outdoors, playing his guitar, ukulele and trumpet, and reading and writing as much as possible. He is also an avid supporter of any Houston sports team.