NEW HAVEN >> Longtime Superintendent of Schools Reginald Mayo - who retired in 2013 but will soon return as interim superintendent - was lauded Sunday as a collaborator, educational innovator and all-around “good person” in the dedication of an early studying college named in his honor.
The “Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Understanding School” for pre-kindergartners at 185 Goffe St. opened this year. The 65,000-square-foot school cost $51 million, according to material in the district.
Mayo, praised by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal Sunday as a pioneer in recognizing the value of early childhood education, even got a guarantee from the senator that if his option for U.S. president wins - he didn’t say Hillary Clinton’s name, but his pronouns gave it away - he’ll bring her back to get a check out to New Haven where she got her start off in early education by functioning at the Yale Kid Study Center. The audience applauded.
Blumenthal quoted former Secretary of State and Gen. Colin Powell: “Our children are 40 percent of our population, but one hundred % of our future.” And after that Blumenthal mentioned of Mayo: “It doesn’t get any better” than having an early childhood education center named immediately after you.
Students in the college of 560 wowed the invitation-only audience by singing, “Twinkle, Twinkle Small Star,” their ABCs as well as a song about living in harmony, together with the line, “The planet can be a lovely location. You are able to be you and I is often me.”
Mayo worked in the district’s schools for 46 years, beginning as a teacher, 21 of them as superintendent. Mayo was named Connecticut Superintendent from the Year in 2004. Mayo is identified for building the biggest magnet schools plan within the state.
Mayo will take the helm as interim Wednesday, as Superintendent of Schools Garth Harries is leaving the post Tuesday.
Teachers union President David Cicarella, who worked a lot of years with Mayo, stated his style has often been about “collaboration.” In the course of “tumultuous” times - and there were many during his tenure - Mayo generally “steadied the waters,” Cicarella stated.
Cicarella stated it is fitting to dedicate the creating to Mayo not just simply because of all he’s performed for education in the city but also mainly because “he’s just a decent man, a superb particular person.”
Others mentioned Mayo has never failed to honor the possible of each and every student, to nourish them intellectually.
United Way President and CEO Jennifer Heath said in honor of Mayo’s commitment to young young children, United Way’s Girls United group has committed to purchasing books to fill the library shelves in the new school.
The organization is providing the public a chance to help the effort with a contribution. Here is link to contribute on-line.
Harries mentioned he was cleaning his workplace Sunday just ahead of coming to the dedication and in the center on the big peg board is definitely an op-ed Mayo wrote for the New Haven Register quickly following the New Haven Guarantee system was established. Mayo wrote in the piece about his upbringing inside the projects of Virginia and about how education saved his life.
“What we're dedicating right here currently are those deep, private values,” Harries mentioned. He said Mayo possesses wisdom, insight, as well as political sense.
Harries said the creating is lovely, but they’ve also assembled a “fabulous staff” and a place of enjoy, structure, chance to play and explore and to possess successes.
Mayor Toni Harp said Mayo spent 20 years establishing his reputation for being within the forefront when it came to recognizing the value of early childhood education during the years of rapid brain improvement.
Harp said the city thanks Mayo for understanding not simply the importance of early childhood education, but additionally of higher education, noting the New Haven Guarantee plan was ushered in during his tenure.
Longtime former Mayor John DeStefano, who together with Mayo produced college reform and ambitious building take place, mentioned “Doc” has always been a teacher at his core, which includes by the example he utilised to lead the district. He known as Mayo a “one-man PhD course” in leadership for those have been serious about listening.
DeStefano stated amongst the important lessons he discovered from Mayo: “Stay inside your lane,” which means you stick with mayoral duties and I’ll be superintendent; “’I’ does not get factors done, ‘we’ get issues carried out.’” DeStefano said he’s also lucky to have Mayo as a buddy.
Mayo, who received a standing ovation, told the audience that in preparation for the day, he’s been pondering about people today who've touched his life in essential techniques and a single was his mother.
Mayo mentioned he was born in Virginia, the youngest of 3 young children, and his father fell ill when Mayo was a infant, under no circumstances recovering.
His mother, an “eighth-grade dropout” but a lady with character and integrity, raised them within the public housing project, often making the dollar stretch.
They have been fed, clothed and had gifts under the Christmas tree. The really hard and fast rules have been: No lying, no stealing and take pride in your residence. He said the loved ones deep-cleaned the home every single Saturday.
An additional of mom’s rules - along with the 1 Mayo stated he hated most - was “Teachers are never wrong.” She also taught him to speak to folks when spoken to no matter whether you want to or not.
Increasing up, he challenged numerous of those guidelines - greater than his siblings - and got his share of spankings, Mayo said, making the crowd chuckle.
But of his mother, Mayo stated he knows she’s up there smiling and pondering, “That’s my baby.”