Dr. Reginald Mayo, Superintendent of Schools New Haven, Connecticut
Dr. Reginald Mayo, Superintendent of the New Haven Public Schools, is a seasoned leader whose 37 years as an educator have culminated in remarkable growth for the New Haven Public Schools.

Dr. Mayo was appointed Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools in 1992 and has devoted most of his professional career to the district. He started out in 1967 as a science teacher at Troup Middle School, and subsequently chaired the mathematics and science department at Troup. In 1973, Dr. Mayo was appointed Assistant Principal of Troup, then was promoted to principal of Jackie Robinson Middle School. In 1980, he continued his professional development as a post-doctorate fellow at Yale University. In 1981, he was promoted to K-8 Director of Schools, and in 1984, Executive Director of School Operations, a post he retained until his superintendency appointment in 1992.

Through his leadership, New Haven became the first district in the State of Connecticut to craft a policy effectively ending the practice of social promotion. New Haven's retention policy, its mandatory summer school and its Saturday Academies have garnered national press attention and praise from key leaders. The summer school program has emerged as one of the most successful in the State of Connecticut.

At a time when the State of Connecticut is rocked by the school desegregation case known as Sheff vs. O'Neill, Dr. Mayo's school district has quietly and effectively built the largest interdistrict magnet program in the State of Connecticut, with 1,300 suburban students enrolled and a model program of urban-suburban exchange.

As many school districts are just coming to grips with the deterioration of neighborhood schools built decades ago, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. has created one of the largest and most innovative school construction programs in the country, administered through the Board of Education. To date, as a result of this program, the first phase of the building program has resulted in renovations and reconstruction for 14 schools. Another six schools are in construction and 9 are in design. A new master plan completed in 2001 charts the rebuilding of every remaining school in the district, with a budget exceeding $1.1 billion.

The New Haven Public Schools also oversees an early childhood initiative that has expanded the quality and quantity of child care available in the City of New Haven. The City's school readiness program is one of the most ambitious, with nearly 2,000 new child care slots created just in the past few years for children ages 3 and 4. The district also has the highest percentage of children attending preschool programs of the urban districts in the State of Connecticut.

Dr. Mayo has created several other innovative programs to help families succeed with school. At school events, he noted that grandparents often were the primary caregivers. As a grandparent contributing to his grandson's care, he sympathized. He asked his Social Development Department to look into the trend. The result was a monthly forum for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren that has involved 1,000 grandparents.

Dr. Mayo is an effective advocate and champion who was named a national finalist for Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. Dr. James Comer, founder of the Yale University School Development Program, honored Dr. Mayo with an award for his "tireless work on behalf of America's children, especially the most disadvantaged."

Educational Background
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Connecticut
Post-Doctoral Study, Yale University School Development Program
Doctor of Education, Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Master of Science, Southern Connecticut State University
Bachelor of Science, Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia

Professional Activities
Member, Horace Mann League of the U.S.A.
Fellow for Calhoun College, Yale University
Fellow for Yale Bush Center
Student Advisor, Union Graduate School
Adjunct Professor, Southern Connecticut State University
Research Affiliate, Yale Child Study Center (reappointment, through June 30, 2004)

Awards 2004 Finalist, 2004 National Superintendent of the Year, American Assoc. of School Administrators
2003 Connecticut 2004 Superintendent of the Year, CT Association of Public School Superintendents
2003 Thirman L. Milner Outstanding Civic Leadership Award, Greater New Haven NAACP
2003 Educational Leader of the Year, Southern CT State Univ. Department of Educational Leadership
2003 Casa Otonal, Man of the Year
2003 Farnham Neighborhood House, Community Leader Award
2002 The Gan School, Community Leadership Award
2001 Community Service Award for Education, Greater New Haven Black History Committee
2000 Outstanding Superintendent Award, Neag School of Education Alumni Society
University of Connecticut
2000 "Rebuilding Urban Schools for the 21st Century," presentation to 60th Annual Conference, National School Boards Association.
1999 American Association of School Administrators' Judge, Architectural Jury
1999 Yale University School Development Program
1999 Gateway Community College Foundation Man of the Year
1999 Positive Image Award, Opportunities and Industrialization Center
1999 Service Award, Connecticut Council of Boy Scouts of America
1998 W.E.B. DuBois Service Award
1998 Elm City Nation Outstanding Achievement
1998 Distinguished Educational Service, NAACP
1996 Al Haray Service Award
1993 Head Start Children and Families Service Award
1992 Service Award for Fair Haven Area Children and Summer Programs

Mailing Address
New Haven Public Schools
54 Meadow St., New Haven, CT 06519
Telephone: (203) 946-8888
FAX (203) 946-7300

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