Board of Education Honors 103-Year-Old Yates Volunteer

Hazel Hainsworth Young (shown here with HISD Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra) has served the district in one capacity or another since 1926. The 103-year-old retired educator was honored on October 8 for her ongoing efforts to recruit college students and community leaders to volunteer at Yates High School.

On October 8, the HISD Board of Education presented a commendation for meritorious service to Hazel Hainsworth Young for her astonishing 82 years of service to the district and her tireless support of the students at Jack Yates High School.

Over the past three years, Young has led an effort to recruit college students and members of community service organizations to serve as volunteers at Yates High School. This year, in celebration of the centennial of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Young asked members to volunteer at Yates High School during the 2008–2009 school year. Young, who is a member of the sorority, was three years old when the organization was founded. She turned 103 on September 12.

Her service to Houston students began in 1926 when she was named the first Latin teacher at the newly opened Jack Yates High School. She is the oldest living original Yates faculty member. In 1956, she became Dean of Girls at Yates and retired from HISD as Dean of Girls at Phillis Wheatley High School in 1972.

In 2005, the board named the Yates High School library after her and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority purchased $15,000 worth of computer equipment for the school. 

Young started the Houston chapter of the sorority 80 years ago. Noteworthy members include: HISD Board of Education First Vice President Paula Harris, Congresswoman Shelia Jackson-Lee, retired HISD Deputy Superintendent Faye Bryant, and astronaut Mae Jemison.