Geoffrey Harris Young

Geoffrey Harris Young is the proud principal of Henry Ford Academy.

A graduate of Detroit Public Schools, Geoffrey Young earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from the University of Detroit-Mercy and a Master’s Degree in School Administration from Wayne State University. He holds teacher and administrator certificates from the State of Michigan and belongs to several professional organizations including the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Principal Young recently joined the Henry Ford Academy as only the second principal in the school’s nearly three-decade history. He has been a professional educator for 25 years, and has served as a university resident director, a high school classroom teacher and a high school administrator. He has deep experience in the science of learning and in teacher/staff development. He has a sincere and rich enthusiasm for fostering student voice and for building collaborative and meaningful relationships with parents and school-community stakeholders.

Principal Young believes that Henry Ford Academy is a uniquely powerful school–with students, families and staff learning together in a historically, socially and intellectually rich environment. “As the principal of this school, I feel deeply responsible for its safety, stability and continued development. My professional joy comes from seeing people achieve more than they imagined they would, and from seeing them refine their capacity for empathy, innovation and making meaning of their world.”

“Students need an academic and relational space that helps them thrive, and Henry Ford Academy specializes in creating such a space. The Academy’s staff want strong partnerships with parents and the communities around us, since we recognize that we are in this work together, and our collective expertise and support help give our students the best possible tools for navigating their world. Our students have varied goals for life after high school, but whatever they choose to do, Henry Ford Academy provides the catalyst for the learning and connections that will support all their future endeavors.”

Principal Young lives with his wife and two young sons, and they are eager to be part of the HFA family!