SUMNER — Tony Young is the new superintendent of the West Tallahatchie School District.
Young, 49, of Clarksdale, assumed the post Jan. 1 after his appointment by the WTSD Board of Trustees.
He succeeds Dr. Sherry Ellington, 66, of Tutwiler, who had served as superintendent since January 2020. She retired effective Dec. 31, 2024.
Dr. Sherry Ellington served as superintendent of the West Tallahatchie School District for just shy of five years. (Photo by Kemmery Hill)
Young’s hiring was a promotion within the district office, where he had served as director of federal programs and curriculum since July 2021.
According to a biographical sketch submitted to The Sun-Sentinel, Young is a 1993 graduate of West Tallahatchie High School.
He earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education with a focus in mathematics from Mississippi Valley State University in 2000, a master’s degree in education from Delta State University in 2010 and a specialist degree in education leadership from Northcentral University in 2013.
Young has logged 18 years of service within the WTSD, having served as a teacher, coach, bus driver, assistant principal, principal and federal programs and curriculum director. He also has been a principal in the Coahoma and Sunflower county school districts.
“Like many of Tallahatchie County’s public school students ... Young came from humble beginnings,” notes the biography. “His mother was a business owner. His father was a factory worker, and his stepfather was a farmer and truck driver.”
Young is active in community affairs. He is the pastor of Pleasant Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Lambert and a member of Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksdale.
Young is a member of the Clarksdale Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
He and his wife, Tammy Young, a supervisor at the Clarksdale regional office of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, have three sons, Justin, Tony Jr. and Jaydee, and one daughter, Carolelynn. They have one grandchild, Ja’Karye.
The biography adds that “Mr. Young’s mission is to ensure each learner is provided a quality education that enables students the opportunity to successfully meet the demands of a rapidly changing society.”
