Max White is a man of many talents. As a qualifier for the Olympic Trials, he ran a 2:20:40 marathon in 1975. He attended Princeton and graduated with a degree in economics. White is even a veteran of the U.S. military, serving as a Colonel in the Air National Guard, with deployments to Iran and Saudi Arabia. Beyond that, anybody who has met him will know about his legendary 10,000+ day Duolingo streak. However, one might argue that his greatest achievement is his time teaching in Albany.
“I love working with students and helping them with their math,” White said. “If students need tutoring in math, I tutor them without them having to pay me.”
White has an impressive drive to help everyone around him. This can be seen in the many events he helps run.
“I like to contribute any way that I possibly can,” White said. “I’ll do anything for West Albany, and that’s why I perform in the winter talent show and help to lead the Polar Plunge. I do the scorebook for every home varsity basketball game.”
Beyond just his involvement in events, White has a passion for helping students. He is known for always asking for questions and confirming that everyone understands the concepts he teaches.
“I enjoy being a substitute teacher because, as a substitute math teacher, I get to work with more of the students here at West than any of the full-time teachers do.”
One of Mr. White’s most beloved traditions is his annual performance of Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song in the West Albany Talent Show.
“I thought, if there are these songs about Christmas, how about a song about Hanukkah? And then I found Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song, and I figured that would be something I could perform.”
From growing up in Massachusetts to attending Princeton, to winning long-distance running national championships, White seems to have done everything and been everywhere. However, something about the Bulldogs always seems to bring him back to West Albany. Perhaps it has something to do with one of White’s favorite jokes to crack.
“I’ll often peel a banana in class and say, ‘Oh, yeah, class, this banana reminds me of you. All you students come this way. Well, you both have appeal.’”
