Young brings experience, excitement to Winters high schools this fall

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

High school students will return to school with another new building, a new bell schedule and the new combined model of having Winters High School and the Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy all on the same school site. With optimistic energy and a desire to bring strong support for staff and new opportunities for student success, Justin Young returns to Winters as the new principal for both high school sites.

Young originally served as the WHS vice principal from 2017 to 2019. He said he loved every aspect about Winters, except the commute from Roseville where he lived with his wife. Young said the sole reason he left his role in 2019 was to be closer to home. However, now that he lives closer he’s ready to step back into the administrative leadership role as both WHS and Wolfskill CRA students and staff embark into a new era together.

“The cool thing is having been here, having the perspective and different experiences to know that this is something I want to do and what I don’t want to do,” Young said about his return to Winters. “I have a lot of positive energy and excitement and belief that what we’re doing here is best for the students. We have fantastic staff who care deeply about our students, and knowing some of them already helps to continue building on the momentum of what we want to do.”

Young said he enjoys working at the high school level because there are so many opportunities for students to learn and grow academically through programs, clubs, athletics and experiences they have available to them. He said he finds fulfillment in watching students learn and it’s exciting to see what they do with the tools and opportunities provided to them to build up both career and life skills.

“Students can get involved in multiple activities. Many of our students are in all sorts of things,” Young said. “They can develop those skills that can transfer to all fields of education. Academic, social emotions. In the professional world that will set them up for success.”

Education inspiration

His mom is a long-time elementary school educator, and seeing the commitment and dedication she gave to provide her students with opportunities made an impact. Young finds inspiration to be a pillar of support and to provide the type of support he received from his teachers.

“The beauty of education is you want to ensure that all of our students have the skills and can be successful. That’s the drive,” Young said. “Through educators, I had, through the opportunities I had, and my mom. I want to ensure that all students have that access and opportunity.”

Young began his college journey at UC Santa Barbara with the goal to become a lawyer.

However, after volunteering in a classroom he fell in love with being an educator and decided he no longer wanted to go to law school. During his senior year, he switched his path to from law to education.

He obtained his teaching credential from Cal State Long