Young, Ella Flagg

Ella Flagg (1845-), an American educator. Ella Flagg was born at Buffalo, New York, and was educated in the public schools of Chicago. She was graduated from the city high schools and the city training school for teachers. Miss Flagg began teaching in 1862. In 1868 she married William Young but did not cease her professional work. In 1887 Mrs. Young was made superintendent of one of the districts of Chicago. President Harper offered her a position in Chicago University, but Mrs. Young insisted on waiting until she had a suitable degree. In 1900 she won the degree of Ph. D. with honors in the University of Chicago and accepted the coveted professorship. In 1905 Mrs. Young was elected principal of the Chicago Normal School. In 1909 she was elected superintendent of the public schools of Chicago at a salary of $10,000 a year, the most responsible position and the highest salary ever awarded an American woman. At the 1910 session of the National Educational Association held in Boston Mrs. Young was elected president for the ensuing year.