Barbara “Bunny” Bernice Young not only leant Burlington Township’s elementary school her name but an attitude that lives on to this day.
Saturday, April 8 marked Barbara “Bunny” Bernice Young’s 90th birthday, and she had one piece of advice to bestow.
“The secret to success in life is education,” Young said. “It really is — that’s important.”
It’s fitting, then, that Young should have a Burlington Township school named after her where the foundation for a good education is laid. B. Bernice Young Elementary School, originally named Pinewald School, threw its school’s namesake a celebration on Thursday, March 30 to commemorate her milestone birthday.
Students and faculty created a paper red carpet to lead Young into a celebration where she was greeted by balloons, banners and a cake. Past principals, Mayor Brian J. Carlin and current Young School students were some of the guests in attendance.
“It was beautiful to see her walk into her namesake school with students gathering around her to ask questions and learn from her history,” said Dr. Denise P. King, principal of the school.
Several students inquired as to how Young came to have a school named after her. Young self-deprecatingly answered it was probably just because she worked in the school district for around 35 years. King laughed in response and said there was more to the school’s renaming than just time logged.
“I kept hearing how kind you were to everyone, how nice you were to the students, how you continued to reach out to families, and that’s why they named the school after you,” King said to Young.
Young’s successors think her style as an administrator set a tone that lives on to this day at Young School.
“Mrs. Young left a lasting legacy; her style of administration reached far beyond the classroom,” said the third principal of Young School, Joyce Payne. “She was always about putting the children first, and she always let everyone know that.”
Payne said Young always praised her students and held them to high standards, and this attitude, in turn, was reflected by teachers in the classroom. Payne said she was grateful to have Young’s model to follow when she stepped into the role.
Young was teaching principal of Shedaker School and Beverly Road School from 1949 to 1979 and principal of Pinewald School from 1979 to 1984. At the age of 22, Young had only been teaching at the elementary level for a year, and she hadn’t anticipated becoming a principal anytime soon. However, when her predecessor had to step away from his role as principal to raise his nephew, Young inherited the role at a young age.
She said the children were her favorite part of the job, and she affectionately remembers her time as principal as “the good days.” She said she was fortunate to have a cooperative staff and good families involved in the school.
Burlington Township Councilwoman Joyce R. Howell, one of Young’s former students, said Young made it so you came into an environment that was safe and loving.
“What a wonderful example she set from the beginning, and it’s still exemplified through our current principal Dr. King,” Howell said.
Carlin said in speaking with Young, he learned she used to have a motto that if she bought a new outfit each weekend and wore it on Monday, it would get her through the week. Young said she used to start in September and see how long she could go before she repeated an outfit.
Carlin said Young’s positive attitude is what has left a lasting impression on Burlington Township.
“Your extraordinary dedication, contributions and accomplishments have made an imprint on the lives of school children, faculty and the entire Burlington Township community,” Carlin said to Young.
Young remains involved with the school today. She returns each year as guest reader for the school’s Read Across America program. She said she was grateful to the school celebrating her 90th year.
“In general, I feel I’ve had a very fortunate life,” Young said.
