Dr. Lester Young, Jr. EdD, is a career born educator raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. He received his Ed.D. degree from Fordham University and M.S. degree from Brooklyn College. His professional experience includes time served as a teacher, guidance counselor, supervisor of special education, elementary school principal, and the Associate Commissioner with the New York State Education Department. He also led the first N.Y.C. Office of Youth Development and School Community Services.

A recognized educational leader and innovator, he was responsible for establishing some of the more successful high schools and middle schools in New York City. Dr. Young co-chairs the P-12 Education Committee and the Regents Workgroup on Early Learning and Early Childhood Education; he chairs the Regents Workgroup to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color. His leadership in this area led to the establishment of the NYS My Brother’s Keeper initiative and under the leadership of the NYS Legislature, New York State remains the only state in the nation to have the My Brother’s Keeper initiative enacted into NYS law. He has been recognized by many local, national education, and civic education organizations for his professional contributions.