JOHN L. YOUNG
Class of 1956
John L. Young graduated from Covert High School on May 23, 1956. During his high school tenure he was President of his freshman and sophomore classes and Student Body President as a junior and senior. He was veiy active in sports, earning 9 varsity letters in speedball, track, baseball, and basketball. He ran on the first state championship team Covert ever had, which was in track. John went on to Michigan State University where he continued his basketball career and played varsity basketball. Over a seventeen year period, John earned a B.A., B.S., MA. and Ed.S degrees from Michigan State University.
He began his career in education with a junior high special education teaching position in the Jackson Public Schools. During his eight years there, he coached basketball and football, and started a youth service group called L.O.T. (Leader of Tomorrow). He was also selected by the Jackson County Jaycees as their 1967 Outstanding Young Educator.
John then came to Covert High School as its first African-American head principal in 1969. During his 18 years at Covert High School there were many accomplishments, a student academic awards program was put into place and Covert's marching band became one of the highlights of the local Blossomtime Parade. While at Covert, John received the Covert Faculty Appreciation Award, the Covert Student Appreciation Award and the Southwestern Michigan Student Leadership Recognition Award.
Later, John became principal of Normandy Senior High in Normandy, Missouri with a student body of 1800 and severe financial problems. In 1994, John moved to Lyons To High School in Illinois to direct the program of the two campus high schools with approximately 3000 students.