SBOE Member District 8

Young recently retired as the Executive Director of Student Support Services and Special Education for Nacogdoches ISD. She earned an associate degree in education from South Florida State College, bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Central Florida, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, an educational specialist degree in educational leadership, and a Doctorate of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Her career spans over 30 years in public education as a speech therapist, reading specialist, middle school administrator, director, and district executive director. Following her exemplary service as a Master Trustee for Apple Springs ISD in Trinity County (6 years), a former two-term member of the Executive Board of Leadership – Texas Association of School Boards Alumni Association (LTASBAA), a 3-term member of the TASB Legislative Advisory Council (LAC) representing Region 6, and two years on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Board of Trustees Advisory Committee, Young wrote her doctoral dissertation on the connection between the school board, within their perceived roles and responsibilities, and their relationship with the superintendent. Young wrote, “School board members are expected to make important decisions that directly impact students without having been provided the political, financial, educational, or statutory training necessary for such monumental tasks. Boards are as honest to their role as superintendents are to theirs.” In her spare time, Dr. Young volunteers as a dance teacher for the Adaptive Dance class at No Limits Dance Center of Nacogdoches, serving children with disabilities through dance and movement and volunteers with the local Trinity County 4-H club. 

Young is a 9th generation of the Rose family to reside in Texas and her family is recognized by the Texas State Historical Society as a Texas First Family. Her family member: John Washington Rose was elected to the very first Texas Legislature in 1846, representing Victoria County.  Following the legacy of the Rose family, 176 years later, Dr. Young now serves as an elected state official.  She is the Literacy Chair of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Anthony Smith Chapter and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Mary Hall Mantooth Chapter. She is the immediate past President of the Nacogdoches Chapter of the American Association of University Women, a board member of the Apricity Foundation, a lifetime member of the Montgomery County Fair Association, a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo serving on the Scholarship Administration Committee and the Speakers Committee and is the First Lady of WMC. Young was recently honored as a recognized Alumni from both South Florida State College and University of Central Florida. She was named 2021 Educator of the Year in Special Services from the Association of Texas Professional Educators, awarded the 2021 State of Texas 4-H Salute to Excellence Award for District 5, named a 2022 Friend of Education by Sam Houston State University, awarded the 2023 Woman of the Year special recognition as an Outstanding Advocate by the American Association of University Women Nacogdoches Branch, recognized as the 2023 Area 5 CTAT Champion of CTE Award and a 2024 Montgomery County Woman of Distinction. 

As a member of the State Board of Education, Dr. Young represents District 8 with about 1.9 million Texans who reside in 11 counties: part of Ft. Bend, part of Galveston, Grimes, part of Harris, Houston, Polk, part of Montgomery, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, and Waller counties.