Havaughnia Hayes-White Ed.D.

Dr. Havaughnia Hayes-White is a seasoned educational leader, university faculty member, and advocate for equity, social justice, and inclusion in California’s public education system. Her work spans over 25 years in PreK-12 and Higher Education. She has served as a Special Education Teacher, Program Administrator, Credential Preparation Faculty Member, and former Chairwoman at the California Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE). Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to culturally responsive instructional practices, trauma-informed pedagogy, and emotionally supportive learning environments that foster collaborative school community partnerships. Prior to entering the field of Higher Education, Dr. Hayes-White served 15 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where she led Special Education programming at both the elementary and secondary school sites. She coordinated multidisciplinary teams, facilitated hundreds of Individualized Educational Program (IEP) meetings, and ensured students from birth–22 received a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) as mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Over the past five years, Dr. Hayes-White has greatly enjoyed teaching at the University of Redlands inside the School of Education. Her primary goal is to model equity, inclusion, best instructional practices, and inspire every teacher candidate to adopt, model, and spread the love of teaching and learning within their classrooms. Dr. Hayes-White is recognized for cultivating authentic professor to student relationships, modeling reflective instructional practice, and embedding Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into teacher preparation programs.

• Ed.D., Educational Leadership, California State University, Northridge
• M.A., Educational Administration, California State University, Northridge
• M.A., Early Childhood Special Education, California State University, Northridge
• B.A., Child Development, California State University, Northridge

California Teaching Credentials

• Clear Administrative Services Credential (K-12)
• Clear Early Childhood Special Education Credential
• Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential (K-12)

Dr. Hayes-White has spent the last decade preparing and mentoring future educators across multiple university systems, by supporting teacher candidates pursuing a credential preparation pathway towards earning a preliminary Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Education Specialist, and/or dual credentials as well as Master of Arts Degrees in teaching. Her work is rooted in creating positive learning environments, culturally responsive teaching, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and equity-centered instructional leadership. Dr. Hayes-White continues to hold the esteemed honor of recommending hundreds of graduate degrees and teaching credentials to educators across Southern California.

Prior to joining the University of Redlands, Dr. Hayes-White served in Sacramento as a Commissioner and Chairwoman at the California Department of Education (CDE), Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE). She became the first woman of color to hold the leadership role of Commission Chair. In this capacity, Dr. Hayes-White advised the Governor, California Legislature, State Board of Education, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding statewide special education data & priorities, disproportionality, equity, inclusion, and policy implementation. Her leadership elevated student voice, collaborative governance, and statewide partnerships across local and state education agencies including county offices of education, Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs), and community organizations.

• State & Local Governance
• Public Education Policy & Practice
• Community Engagement & Partnerships
• Special Education Leadership
• Collaborative Problem Solving & IEP Facilitation
• Special Education Advocacy
• Early Childhood Special Education & Inclusive School Design
• Private Therapy Services/Practices
• Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools
• Higher Education
• Teacher Preparation & Credentialing
• Cultural Responsiveness in Teaching
• Instructional Coaching & Leadership
• Curriculum Design
• Universal Design for Learning
• Professional Development & Adult Learning Theories
• Educational Equity, Social Justice, & Policy

Awards

• California State Assembly: Honored for State Level Leadership & Service (2020-2023)
• San Gabriel Valley Chapter NAACP: Award for Exemplary Leadership (September, 2022)
• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Honored for Dedicated Service to Teacher Preparation Programs (2018-2020)
• California State Assembly: Honored for State Level Leadership & Service (2017-2019)
• Atherton Baptist Church: Award for Academic Achievement (June, 2015)
• Honors Convocation Medallion: Personal Achievement (May, 2015)
• Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society: Honored for Leadership Service Board Member, Secretary (2014-2015)

Service

• University of Redlands School of Education “How to Become a Teacher:” Faculty Keynote Speaker (May, 2024)
• California’s Facilitated Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Network: Advisory Committee Member (February, 2024)
• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Board of Institutional Review: Part II Site Visitor (2019-2020)
• California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s “Significant Disproportionality Preschool” Committee (2019-2020)
• California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s “Significantly Disproportionate Stakeholders” Committee (2019-2020)
• California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s “Improving Special Education” Task Force: Member (2019-2020)
• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Board of Institutional Review: Part I Program Reviewer (October, 2018)
• National University Sanford College of Education: Spring Symposium Committee Member (2017-2018)

• American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
• California Teachers Association (CTA)
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• National Education Association (NEA)