LAS VEGAS — Linda Young has spent half a century working to improve educational opportunities for Las Vegas students, building a career that spans nearly every role in one of the nation’s largest school districts.
Young’s Las Vegas journey began in 1976, rooted in principles she learned growing up in Ohio.
“We grew up and we were told that we were to give back,” Young said. “We are a community, and we have to raise the next generation. I felt a strong, strong calling on that.”
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Early career in a segregated system
When Young arrived in Las Vegas in 1976, the educational landscape was still transitioning from segregation.
“Well, African-American educators, for the most part, were on what they call historic West Side and they were on schools that were identified mostly for black kids,” Young said. “It started breaking up, quite frankly, and people started going out in other areas and the Clark County School District started opening the doors.”
Those opening doors allowed Young to build an extensive career in school psychology, special education and several administrative roles at Clark County High School, Rancho High School and Joe Mackey in North Las Vegas. She also served on the Clark County School Board.
Current challenges and solutions
Young said the district has quality educators but faces challenges with student preparedness.
“It’s not that the education system we’re having is failing. It’s not. It’s just that we have to, I call it recalibrate. We have to reposition ourselves,” Young said. “We’re getting some kids to graduate, so that’s a good thing, but many are graduating without the proper skills.”
That realization led Young to focus on The Village Foundation, which helps local students secure scholarships and financial support for higher education.
“Our mission here is to save children and help children and believe in children and let them know that our belief in them is our greatest gift that we can give them,” Young said.
Young said the most important priority for education is refocusing on early learning. She said a strong foundation requires more than educators and involves getting family and the community involved so everyone takes education more seriously.
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