Mandy Young has spent 22 years helping students and teachers grow, and now she'll have the opportunity to support every school in Carroll County.
Recently hired as Carroll County Schools' Supervisor of Instruction, Young is excited to expand the work she has loved throughout her career. After 17 years as a middle school math and science teacher and the past five years as an instructional coach, she now looks forward to partnering with principals, instructional coaches and teachers across the district to strengthen instruction and support student success.
"It's really the same work, just on a bigger scale," Young said of her new position. "I'll get to work with principals, instructional coaches and the board office to help implement programs that ultimately help our students be successful no matter what grade they're in."
While her responsibilities have changed as she moves from the CCMS Instructional Coach to the district’s Supervisor of Instruction, Young says one priority will remain constant. She wants to spend as much time as possible in our schools.
"My goal is to be in the schools," she said. "I want to be visible, listening to what teachers need, helping remove barriers and supporting them however I can."
Carroll County Schools Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer Dr. Robin Stephenson, who was principal during Young’s tenure at CCMS and will work closely with her in their new roles, said “Mandy's kindness, dedication, and passion for education shine through in everything she does. Our district will be better because of the relationships she builds and the care she brings to her work.”
Young said she believes meaningful improvement happens when educators learn from one another. She hopes to build strong relationships throughout the district by sharing her own experiences while remaining open to new ideas.
"When we work together, we can accomplish more," she said. "If I can share what I've learned over the past 22 years, and at the same time learn from other people, our impact will continue to grow. It doesn't matter how long you've been in education. We all have something to learn from each other."
That collaborative mindset also shapes how she plans to support schools. While classroom walkthroughs remain an important part of instructional leadership, Young wants teachers to see her presence as something much more than a formal observation.
"I want teachers to know I'm accessible. Whether it's a teacher, principal or anyone else who needs support, I want them to know they can call me."
Young says one promise will continue to guide every decision she makes. She never wants to lose sight of what it feels like to stand in front of students each day.
"I will never forget what it's like to be in the classroom," she said. "Sometimes it's easy to focus on compliance, but I want to keep teachers and students at the forefront when decisions are made."
That perspective aligns with her personal motto: "Do less with more focus."
"It's not about piling on more things, It's about focusing on the right work and doing it well," she said.
As she begins her new position, Young is eager to build on the progress already taking place across Carroll County Schools.
"I know where we've come from, and I want to keep the momentum going," she said. "We have so many great things happening across our district, and I'm excited to be part of helping that continue."