Dr. Raymond L. Haynes was unanimously approved by the Hampton School Board as superintendent of Hampton City Schools (HCS) on June 7, 2023, and began serving in the role on July 1. A lifelong Hampton resident and graduate of Hampton City Schools, Dr. Haynes brings more than three decades of experience in education and leadership within the division.

 

Under his leadership, Hampton City Schools continues to achieve historic student outcomes. The Class of 2025 achieved a 98.88% on-time graduation rate, the highest in division history and the sixth consecutive year exceeding 95%, while the division recorded a 0.2% dropout rate, the lowest in division history and the fifth consecutive year below 1%. These results reflect the strength of the Academies of Hampton and the division’s strategic Master Plan 2.0, which aligns innovative teaching practices, authentic career experiences, and intentional supports to ensure students graduate prepared for college, careers, and life.

 

Dr. Haynes has served on Hampton’s Division Leadership Team since 2014, first as Executive Director of Schools (2014–2019) and later as Chief of Secondary School Leadership (2019–2023). During that time, he helped reduce the division’s dropout rate from 14.1% in 2018 to 0.62% in 2022 while expanding community and business partnerships from 80 to more than 400 partners across 16 industries supporting the Academies of Hampton.

 

His leadership also helped position Hampton City Schools as the first Ford Next Generation Learning K–12 community in the nation, integrating project-based learning and authentic career experiences across all schools.

 

Dr. Haynes shares, “This opportunity holds a special place in my heart, as it allows me to continue to give back to the community where I was raised and educated. Being able to serve the students, parents, and educators of this city fills me with immense pride and excitement. My goal is to build upon the strong foundation of excellence already in place, working collaboratively with the School Board, City Council, HCS staff, students, families, and community stakeholders as we maintain a laser focus on student success.”

 

An HCS educator for 31 years, Dr. Haynes has served in a wide range of leadership roles from elementary through high school. His career began as an educational enrichment specialist, and he later served as an elementary assistant principal and principal at the elementary, PreK–8, middle, and high school levels. He also served as a planning principal, leading collaborative efforts to open and staff Hampton’s PreK–8 schools, Hunter B. Andrews and George P. Phenix, while simultaneously serving as interim director of alternative programs.

 

Dr. Haynes holds degrees from Christopher Newport University, Norfolk State University, the University of Virginia, and Old Dominion University, where he earned his doctorate and received the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award. In recognition of his leadership and service, he was also named one of Christopher Newport University’s Distinguished Virginians.

 

Additionally, he is the proud father of a graduate of Hampton City Schools, Class of 2021, from the Governor’s STEM Academy of Architecture, Environment, and Engineering at Kecoughtan High School.