To most Robinson Secondary School students, Kelly White was just another middle school guidance counselor until a few months ago. Now, they know better.

Students stumbled upon White’s secret identity as a dog-sledding world champion and character in a popular children’s book during an interview for the school’s newspaper. After reading the article, teacher Jane Terhune also assigned the book about White’s experience, called "Foxy’s Tale," to some of her English-as-a-second-language students.

"Having ESOL students from China, Korea, Bolivia, Guatemala, Venezuela, etc. read the book, about, in some cases, their own particular guidance counselor, has really brought it to life," said Terhune in an e-mail.

Ed White, Kelly White’s father, co-authored "Foxy’s Tale" and published it in 1994. He tells the story of Kelly White’s childhood dog sledding career from the perspective of the family pet and champion dog, Foxy.
While attending elementary school and high school in Alaska during the 1980s and early 1990s, Kelly White won multiple junior world dog-sledding championships and placed well at the Arctic Winter Games with Foxy.

She appeared on ESPN three times, including once when the sports network devoted a whole segment to her. Kelly White was also featured in "Sports Illustrated For Kids" with her five-dog team before she quit racing in 1992.

"When I was in high school, I got mono and missed the world championship. Then, I kind of lost interest," said Kelly White, who trained four nights per week with her father and the dogs. She had to spend her weekends at events during the sport’s season.

After Kelly White quit, her father, who worked for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, wrote most of the book over the next two years while traveling on planes back and forth from Washington, D.C.

"I did it for Kelly so she could have something to help her remember that time," he said.

"Foxy's Tale" really took off in 1997, when it was selected for a "battle of the books" competition for elementary school students in Alaska.

"Every third and fourth grader in Alaska had to read it," said Kelly White.

Ed White, who self-published the book, now distributes copies to major companies like Barnes & Noble bookstores, Borders bookstores and www.amazon.com. He also travels to elementary schools. including several in Fairfax County, to talk about "Foxy’s Tale," with students.

Some elementary school students are confused when Kelly White accompanies her father to their class.

"Third graders always think it is strange that I am grown. It is difficult for them to understand that I am an old person," said Kelly White.

But Terhune’s students, who are learning English as eighth-graders, had no problem understanding that Kelly White was 30 years old. She works with some of them who see her every day.

"It was fun to read the book and ask her questions personally," said student Jonathan Veliz, who added that the end of the book, where Foxy reunites with her mother, made him cry.