Dr. Mays has more than 20 years of experience as an education professional. He has served as a classroom teacher, principal, and administrator. Dr. Mays has served as the interim superintendent for Austin ISD; before that, he served Austin ISD as its chief of schools. Before joining Austin ISD, he was the senior director of schools for the Harris County Department of Education. He has worked as a principal administrator leading middle and high schools in Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD. He began his career as a special education teacher at Pflugerville ISD.
While serving as chief of schools in Austin ISD, Dr. Mays’ leadership raised the accountability rating of schools. In the 2021 administration of STAAR, 71 percent of campuses increased their ratings from 2019, including six schools that improved from Ds or Fs to a rating of C or better. AISD went from 5 schools with the highest growth index of 5 and 31 schools with a 1, the lowest rating based on 2020-2021 STAAR, to 33 schools with 5 and 9 schools with a 1, showing significant growth and improvement.
Dr. Mays’ work in Austin ISD also included increasing industry-based certifications and associate degree attainments and supervising and supporting an enrollment and advocacy department to increase enrollment and retain students. During his time as interim superintendent, they also successfully passed a $2.44 billion bond.
In his second year as superintendent, Alief ISD successfully passed a VATRE (Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election) in November 2024, making it one of only 20-plus schools to accomplish this feat in 2024. A lifelong learner, Dr. Mays completed his superintendency with the University of Texas and The Holdsworth Center’s Superintendent’s Leadership Program in December 2024.
Dr. Mays has a Bachelor of Arts degree focusing on Biology & History from Huston-Tillotson University and a Master of Education from Texas State University. He received his doctorate in education from Tarleton State University. Dr. Mays has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Downtown, the University of Houston-Lone Star College-Kingwood, and Rice University.
Active in his community, he serves as Chairman of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators Central Office Commission and is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha, 100 Black Men, and the Texas Association of School Administrators.
Dr. Mays is married to Belinda. They have three children enrolled in Alief ISD, where he serves as the first African American superintendent.
