Young, Ella Flagg (1845-1918), was the first American woman to serve as superintendent of schools in a large city. She held this position in Chicago from 1909 to 1915. Her chief contribution was to introduce practical studies, such as home economics (now called family and consumer sciences) and manual training, including woodworking and metalworking. In 1910, the National Education Association (NEA) elected Young as its first woman president. Young received a doctorate degree in education from the University of Chicago in 1900. She later served as a professor of education at the university. Young was born in Buffalo, New York, on Jan. 15, 1845. She died on Oct. 26, 1918.
