NCUHS principal Chris Young named 2024 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year

NEWPORT –– Chris Young, principal of North Country Union High School in Newport, has been named the 2024 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year, the North Country Supervisory Union.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) presents this prestigious award annually to a school leader who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing the voice and influence of school leaders in policy decisions at the federal, state, and local levels.

Young’s commitment to empowering principals to shape policies that directly impact their students and educators has distinguished him as a true leader in educational advocacy.

As the 2023 Vermont Principal of the Year, NASSP Vermont State Coordinator, and President-Elect of the Vermont Principals’ Association, Young has tirelessly championed initiatives to address critical issues such as student mental health, substance abuse, and the educator pipeline.

Through interviews and op-eds featured in national media outlets, Young has fervently advocated for policies aimed at fostering safer, more inclusive learning environments for all students. His dedication to the well-being of his students, staff, and fellow educators led him to Washington, D.C., where he engaged directly with representatives to urge support for policies that prioritize mental health and student welfare.

Upon receiving the award, Young expressed his determination to amplify the voices of those affected by the pressing issues facing schools today. He shared a poignant message about “NorahBeads,” bracelets honoring a student at his school who died by suicide. Vermont’s delegates speaking to Congress will wear these bracelets, and representatives will receive them as a reminder of the human impact behind the policies advocated for by Young and his colleagues.

Through his unwavering dedication and compassionate advocacy, Principal Chris Young continues to inspire positive change and drive progress in education.