Dr. Raymond Haynes was unanimously approved by the Hampton School Board as superintendent of Hampton City Schools on June 7, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.

 

Under his leadership, all Hampton schools are accredited without conditions—the highest level of state accreditation. The class of 2024 achieved a historic on-time graduation rate of 97.93%, the highest in division history, alongside a dropout rate of just 0.5%, marking the fourth consecutive year below 1%. These outcomes reflect the success of the Academies of Hampton and Master Plan 2.0, a strategic framework guiding the division’s priorities for academic excellence and student success.

 

Dr. Haynes has been a member of the Hampton City Schools (HCS) Division Leadership Team since 2014, first as executive director of schools (2014-2019) and later as chief of secondary school leadership (2019-2023). He was instrumental in leading efforts that reduced the dropout rate from 14.1% in 2018 to 0.62% in 2022, while also expanding community and business partnerships from 80 to more than 400 partners across 16 industries to support the Academies of Hampton. 

 

Since 2019, he led the work around the Academies of Hampton to ensure a true transformation of teaching and learning for young people across all four high schools. Under his direction, and through the lens of the Academies of Hampton, Project-Based Learning has been infused into all high schools touching approximately 6,000 students per year. In June of 2023, Hampton City Schools achieved the distinction of becoming the first Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL) K-12 community in the nation, ensuring that students graduate prepared for success in college, careers, and life through project-based learning, authentic career experiences, and innovative teaching practices.

His career, which began 30 years ago in Hampton City Schools, has afforded him the opportunity to serve as an educational enrichment specialist for K-12, an elementary assistant principal, and a principal at the elementary, PreK-8, middle, and high school levels. Additionally, he has served as a planning principal where he developed collaborative plans to build, open, and staff Hampton’s new PreK-8 schools, Hunter B. Andrews and George P. Phenix, while simultaneously serving as the interim director of alternative programs.

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, where I grew up and received my education, 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 stakeholders as we continue our laser focus on student success. Together, we will create a brighter future for every child in our community.”

His leadership extends beyond the day-to-day operations of Hampton City Schools, exemplified by his work in building a strong partnership with Old Dominion University through the Hampton City Schools Leadership Cohort. This “grow your own” program is designed to develop future school and district leaders, and Dr. Haynes has played a hands-on role in shaping its success—collaborating with Monarch Lead ODU to design course schedules, recruit and interview participants, teach classes, and evaluate aspiring leaders. Rooted in collaboration and community partnership, his approach ensures students are prepared for success in college, careers, and life. His recognition as one of Christopher Newport University’s Distinguished Virginians underscores his lasting impact on education, his community, and the Commonwealth.

 

Dr. Haynes earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Christopher Newport University, a Master of Social Work from Norfolk State University, and an educational administration endorsement from the University of Virginia. He also holds an educational specialist endorsement and a doctorate from Old Dominion University, where he received the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award.