COFFEE WITH

NEIL YOUNG, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF LUSD, SUCCESSOR SUPERINTENDENT

 BY SUZANNE LEDBETTER

Neil Young commands attention. Not in an overtly authoritative or demanding way, but with a kind smile that stretches from ear to ear. As the newly appointed Associate Superintendent of Lodi Unified School District, Young brings a breadth of knowledge and unique perspective to the position, stemming from decades spent in the classroom as a former teacher and administrator.

When we sat down with Neil at Trail Coffee in Lodi, it became clear LUSD made a smart choice in selecting him as superintendent. While he was born in the Bay Area, Woodbridge is his home. After meeting and marrying Shelby Young, the two moved to Woodbridge where the couple has made quite the impact on the community. Shelby is the executive director at Lodi House Women’s Shelter, and Neil quickly made a reputation as a passionate and caring educator. Of their four children, two attend schools in LUSD. His experience as a father, teacher, and administrator, coupled with an overwhelmingly can-do attitude, brings hope to the district during a time when hope is in shortchange.

As the new superintendent, Young recognizes that a lot has transpired in our community over the last three years. “I want to help our District as we rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate learning loss, and continue to expand our educational opportunities,” says Young. “I need to be in the communities we serve. I need to hear the concerns, celebrate the accomplishments, and weigh the cost of decisions made throughout our District.”

In public education, every child enters the classroom from a different perspective, and knowing that is critical to understanding the role of superintendent. “I understand the challenges that presents to our teachers, and I know the dedication it takes to identify and meet the needs of each child, as well as the classroom,” Young explains. “I know it’s important to provide teachers with training, supplies, and critical information to understand each child's academic strengths and areas of growth.”

Young also has ambitious goals for LUSD. The first being that, as a district, LUSD must ensure every child reads at grade level by third grade, because this has been identified as the gateway to future opportunities. The second, is to do everything as a system to support our students as they rebound from the devastating impacts of the pandemic and associated learning losses. It’s clear Young has his work cut out for him, but with his experience in education, these goals may just be within reach.