Supreme Court District 5
Lu Young of Nicholasville dedicated more than 30 years of service to public education and continues to serve educators through her role with the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Education.
Young is a clinical associate professor in UK's Department of Educational Leadership Studies and the director of UK's Center for Next Generation Leadership and Next Generation Educational Partnerships. She also serves on the UK College of Education Evaluation Center Advisory Board and the Kentucky Association of School Administrators New Superintendents Onboarding Faculty.
She began her teaching career as a classroom teacher in the Jessamine County schools before advancing to the positions of director of curriculum, assistant superintendent and superintendent. She was superintendent from 2004 to 2013 and was named the 2012 Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. She concluded her public education career as chief academic officer for the Fayette County schools.
Young worked as principal research scientist for the Education Division of CNA's Institute for Public Research, which conducts research and analysis on domestic policy issues for government agencies.
Young holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Spanish from Eastern Kentucky University, Rank I and superintendent certifications from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Kentucky University.
She is a graduate of Jessamine County High School.
Young's term will expire April 14, 2028.
Kentucky Board of Education Chair Lu Young, second from right, sits on a defense committee at Barret Traditional Middle (Jefferson County). Young began her teaching career as a classroom teacher in the Jessamine County schools before advancing to the positions of director of curriculum, assistant superintendent and superintendent.
Photo by Matt Rogers, Feb. 28, 2020