A veteran educator who is a graduate of the Princeton Public Schools has been chosen to become the principal of the Johnson Park School.
Stacy Young, who graduated from Princeton High School in 2008, was appointed to the post by the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education at its May 27 meeting.
Young was chosen from among a field of 48 candidates. The list was winnowed down to eight candidates in the first round of interviews and then down to six candidates in a second round of interviews.
Young was one of two finalists for the job. She will be paid $149,000 plus a doctoral stipend of $4,000. She will begin work on July 1.
The new principal replaces Christopher Sheridan, who resigned as the principal after one year.
School board president Dafna Kendal said it was a difficult choice, but she had heard that Young’s enthusiasm, warmth and care for children put her over the top.
“We are excited to have you,” Kendal said “We think you will be a great addition to our administrative team.”
Young is coming to the Princeton Public Schools from the neighboring Montgomery Township School District. She was the director of equity, data and accountability, and is a trained affirmative action officer.
She began her career as an English language arts teacher and later was a supervisor of English and an assistant director of an alternate route teaching program.
Young grew up in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood and attended the Community Park School, the John Witherspoon Middle School and Princeton High School.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education and also a master’s degree in educational leadership, both from The College of New Jersey. She earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Rider University.
“I am beyond honored and incredibly grateful to be appointed as the next principal of the Johnson Park School, and that is in large part because of how proud I am to be a product of the Princeton Public Schools,” Young told the school board.
“I am so, so happy to be home,” she said.
Young said her parents are Haitian immigrants. She said she grew up in a multilingual home and navigated life between the Haitian and American cultures.
“My mom did her very best, but she was trying to support me through a public school system that she just simply did not understand,” Young said.
“We were scraping by. Although this community had – and still does have – some incredible resources, it didn’t necessarily make me feel included or like I belonged any easier.
“And yet, I’m here.”
Education is hard work, Young said. Teachers do not always get to see the fruit of their labors. Their students go on to the next grade and the next school and the next part of their lives.
“Sometimes, you just have to wonder if they made it,” she said. “Well, I made it.”
Young thanked the teachers at the Princeton Public Schools who made an impact on her life. She said she became a reader, a writer, a teacher and now a principal because of them.
She also thanked her husband for his support.
Young said she cannot wait to meet the staff, students and parents of Johnson Park School. She cannot wait to go on the journey with the students to support them and cheer them on.
“Together, we will continue to nurture a school culture where every student feels seen, supported and inspired to reach their full potential,” Young said.
