McKay School of Education > News > Janet Young
A Teacher of Teachers: Janet Young
When asked what she teaches, Janet Young always responds, “I teach teachers—that is who I teach.” And for her prospective teacher-students leaving her classroom, she hopes they too understand that they do not teach reading, writing, or math, but children.
As an associate chair of the Department of Teacher Education, Janet Young handles the administrative responsibilities of the department travel committee, the appeals and grievance committee, and new faculty support, and is involved in program renewal work for the elementary and early childhood education programs. She also teaches reading courses through the Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling. However, in spite of her many administrative duties, Young considers her most important role to be an associate professor of undergraduate and graduate studies in the Department of Teacher Education: a “teacher of teachers.”
Young was born and raised in Provo, Utah, where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and communicative habilitation at BYU, as well as a master’s in teaching and learning. While student teaching first graders as a BYU student, Young found her “true love.” She described with real enthusiasm the thrill she received, and still receives, from watching students learn.
With a varied background in speech pathology, teaching and learning, and literacy, Young taught elementary school, providing a rich academic atmosphere for her students. During this time she learned the most important aspects of teaching, which she would carry to her current role in instructing teachers how to teach. Young later received her PhD in instructional leadership and academic curriculum and reading at the University of Oklahoma.
“Teaching is not a formula, test, or curriculum,” Young reported. “It is a very social, interpersonal, and even moral endeavor.” And because teaching is an interpersonal profession based on teacher-child relationships, Young explained, teachers must learn their own capabilities and strategies not only for teaching in general, but for teaching specifically to each child in the classroom. Teachers need to understand the backgrounds and issues in the lives of each child so that their interactions with each child can be based on the child’s needs.
Currently Dr. Young’s son and daughter-in-law are studying to be teachers. She is happily married with four children, three sons and daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren, all of whom live in Utah County. Her family gathers often—her favorite activity. She enjoys going on road trips with her husband, as well as gardening, needlework, reading, and singing and directing music—specifically children’s music.
2 September 2009