Administrators

Ms. Corbin Mr. Flaherty
Principal Associate Principal

JB Young received its name from, you guessed it, a man named JBYoung. Just who was this man and why was our school named after him? Good question. John B. Young was born in Duane, NY, in 1833. Ironically, our school was named after a man whose own educational beginning was difficult. The only schooling Mr. Young had before the age of 21 was a four-month period of schooling when he was seven years old. Then, with his parents' consent, he had to travel twelve miles to another small village to work for a farmer for his room and board and the right to go to a town school.

At the age of 21, Mr. Young began a three-year process of preparing for college. After three years of preparation, he went to Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. He was graduated from there in 1861. Immediately after graduation, he was chosen Principal of Laurenceville Academy in St. Laurence County, NY. He accepted this position until 1864, when he accepted the principalship of Fort Covington Academy and supervision of the Union schools of that village. He occupied this position for four years.

In the fall of 1868, he came to Davenport, having been elected principal of its single high school, Davenport High, now known as Central High School. He was principal there for ten years. In 1878, he was chosen superintendent of Davenport's schools.

He served as superintendent until 1907 when he was obliged to resign because of old age and failing health. During his superintendency, the schools more than tripled in number of buildings, number of pupils, and in teaching force.

On February 7, 1917, Mr. Young died. For 46 years, he had been active in educational affairs, 39 of which had been spent in the city of Davenport.

In 1922, Mr. Redfield was the principal of JB. At that time, the JB Young school newspaper was entitled The Youngster. Price of purchase was $0.08 a copy or $0.25 for the semester. At this time, JB's address was simply JB Young Intermediate School, Davenport, IA. Student enrollment was 690. Approximately 200 of the 690 students were new students coming from other cities or country schools. Mr. Redfield was quoted as saying: "The persistent digger gets the best results. That's why the rooster scratches so much." He also said to each newcomer, "Make yourself at home, and get into the game as soon as possible."