JOLIET – Jennifer Johnson worked as a principal at several schools in Joliet Public Schools District 86. She recently recalled a leadership team meeting presided over by Charles Young, then the district’s assistant superintendent.

Known for his keen articulation, Charles used a word that stumped Jennifer. She waited until after the meeting to admit her ignorance to the other teachers, only to learn they didn’t understand the meaning either, Jennifer said.

It wasn’t just students, Jennifer felt, who benefited from Charles’ expertise.

“He was the consummate educator in my mind,” Jennifer said. “He kept you on your toes. You’d have to go in for evaluations and – I’m not going to lie, I was always nervous. … He was very organized and always wanted us to follow a plan of action.”

Jessie Young of Joliet, Charles’ wife and high school sweetheart, said Charles grew up in Missouri as the second of four boys. He had a passion for reading and helping children that began at an early age, and never quit.

“He liked to read about other countries,” said Jessie, who taught kindergarten and then first grade at T.E. Culbertson Elementary School from 1985 until her retirement in 1996. “He helped the grandchildren with their reading and read to them at bedtime.”

Jessie said Charles received his bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University in Missouri and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Charles taught grade school in Missouri and was principal of a junior high school in Urbana-Champaign before moving to Joliet and serving as assistant superintendent at District 86 from 1984 to 2000.

Louise Coleman, who was superintendent of the district from 1990 to 2000, said Charles was an outstanding educator and was very caring, very intelligent and extremely knowledgeable in regard to improving schools and student achievement.

In the early 1990s, Charles had the foresight to study the district’s enrollment and prepare for an emerging Hispanic population, Louise said.

“He wanted to make sure the Joliet grade schools were reading to receive the students when they arrived,” she said.

Louise said she and Charles had common goals and worked well together.

“He was a thorough person,” Louise said. “He crossed every ‘t’ and dotted every ‘i.’ He wanted to make sure we were doing the right things. … He was a great man and helped change the landscape of the Joliet grade schools.”

But Charles shared his expertise and wisdom beyond District 86. Thomas L. Jones of Joliet knew Charles as a fellow Christian brother at St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Joliet and a fellow fraternity brother through Kappa Alpha Psi.

Thomas said Charles was an exceptional man, one who applied his knowledge, skills and innovation at St. Mark’s, as well as at the school district. Charles helped evaluate existing systems in the church and then formulated a strategic plan to develop new projects, Thomas said.

“He was a no-nonsense person, but he also provided insights to different situations,” Thomas said. “I’m going to miss him as a friend and mentor.”

Thomas said that when he became assistant superintendent of programs at the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, Charles guided him through the process, offering information on being a good manager, as well as being a good man.

“I could call upon him any time. I felt very comfortable with him,” Thomas said. “He provided insight on various issues that men face in day-to-day life.”

Charles was 81 when he died Aug. 15.

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