Dr. Andrew Young knew he wanted to become an educator by the time he was in the second grade. He explained how he “always had a knack for helping people,” which made teaching feel like a natural career path. 

Young, currently an Assistant Principal, is now preparing to take on the role of VHHS principal next year. 

“VHHS is the only school where I’d want to be a principal,” Young said. “Living in the community, understanding its traditions, and knowing that my four daughters will attend this school someday make it deeply personal for me.”

When Young was in school, he faced difficulties learning but was able to overcome them through help from those around him This made his decision to become an educator even more personal.

“I had significant deficits in reading and other areas,” Young said. “My parents and some amazing elementary school teachers turned things around for me, and I ended up falling in love with school because of that experience.” 

In 2015, Young was hired by current VHHS Principal, Dr. Jon Guilliaume. Young explained that many factors led to his choosing VHHS as his next place of work, but a few things stood out to him.

“From the start, I’ve been impressed by the school’s culture, supportive community, and amazing students. I still feel grateful every day to work here,” Young said.

In his 10 years at VHHS, Young has accomplished many things, including creating the peer tutoring program in the ARC, redesigning 8th grade orientation, and creating an additional program to welcome transfer students and families. As the next VHHS principal, he plans to implement more initiatives to better VHHS.

“I’m excited about creating opportunities for students and parents to meet with me regularly,” Young said. “I want everyone to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.”

Additionally, Young has plans to collaborate with staff to create a gratitude-filled building.

“While I have some big ideas, I’m equally focused on listening to the needs of our students, parents, and staff,” Young said.

Before making an impact at VHHS, Young attended Illinois State University for his bachelor’s degree in history education and graduated in 2007. In 2011, Young went back to school at Northeastern Illinois University to obtain his master’s degree in educational leadership as well as his administration certificate. Finally, he completed his doctorate from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 2017. 

Young received his first teaching job at Rantoul Township High School as a history teacher. Following that, Young moved to Chicago where he taught civics, current affairs, world history, and honors world history at the Noble Street Charter Schools. Out of those courses, Young favored civics and current affairs. 

“I love helping students engage with government-related topics, politics and how these connect to their lives and our history,” Young said. “I’ve always tried to foster thoughtful discussions, especially around differing viewpoints, to help students grow as citizens and understand diverse perspectives.”

These qualities that Young possesses are included in the reasons he was chosen as the next VHHS principal.

Associate Superintendent Briant Kelly explained what stood out to him while interviewing Young. 

“Dr. Young’s dedication to our students and our staff at Vernon Hills really stood out,” Kelly said. “He deeply cares for each person and their success, whatever their role is, either as a student or a staff member.”

Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Teaching, Dr. Thomas Koulentes, explained that Young’s desire to create an environment based on the students stood out to him during the interview process. 

“[He supports] not just student academic needs, but student social-emotional needs and student needs to belong and to be included in the school, and student’s needs to be able to live and achieve the DARING mission,” Koulentes said.  

Brandon Watters, a science teacher who served on the interview team, shared similar views.

“[Dr. Young] is super genuine, he’s super heartfelt, and he loves this place a ton,” Watters said. “In all of his answers that he was giving, he was very much school-focused and Vernon Hills all the way.”

Eeman Dayala (12) is one of the student board representatives and was involved in Young’s interview process. 

“[Dr. Young] is someone who is going to advocate for students to get help in the ways that they need it,” Dayala said.

Dayala believes that over his time at VHHS, Young has done a lot for the ARC, and it has paid off for many students. 

“[Young’s appointment to the principalship] brought a sense of comfort to everyone in [the ARC], knowing that the person who could potentially take on that role was someone who already cared, versus someone who would have to grow to care,” Dayala said. 

English teacher, Tara Young, explained how she feels about her husband’s new principalship.

“I feel really excited. I feel very proud of him,” Tara Young said. “He’s the hardest working person that I know, and this principalship has been a goal of his for a while; it’s something he’s been working toward for a very long time.”