NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Dr. Hugh Jerome Scott, former Dean of the School of Education at Hunter College in New York City and Superintendent of Public Schools of Washington, DC, passed away the morning of July 16th, 2016 at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. He was a 41 year resident of New Rochelle, NY and active member of the community until his death. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 14, 1933 to Layton and Hazel Scott.
Hugh Scott attended elementary and secondary schools in Detroit graduating from Northwestern High School. He was the recipient of the following degrees and certificates from Wayne State University in Detroit: Bachelor of Science in Education (1956), Master of Science in Education (1960), and Education Specialist Certificate (1964). Scott received his Doctorate in Education from Michigan State University in 1966.
Scott began his career as an elementary school teacher in Social Studies in the Detroit Public Schools (1956, 1958-1965). He served honorably in the United States Army (July, 1956 – June, 1958). In 1966, he was appointed Assistant Principal in the Detroit Public Schools system. Later in 1967, Scott served as the Assistant to the Deputy Superintendent for School Community Relations in the Detroit Public Schools. From 1968 to 1970, he was Regional Assistant Superintendent in the Detroit Public Schools.
In 1970, Dr. Scott made history by being appointed the first African American School Superintendent for the Public Schools of Washington, DC: (1970-1973). He subsequently served for two years as Professor of Education in the School of Education for Howard University in Washington, DC. In 1975, he was appointed Dean of Programs in Education at Hunter College of the City of New York. He retired as Dean of the School of Education at Hunter in 2000. For his years of distinguished service to Hunter College and on behalf of the thousands of individuals whose lives he has touched and enriched through leadership, writings, and painstaking efforts in their behalf, Dr. Scott was awarded the Hunter College President’s Medal in 1993. From 2001 to 2004, Scott served as a Scholar in Residence at Pace University in New York with responsibilities as the Director of the African America Leadership Forum/Pace University Institute for the Advancement of Equality of Educational Opportunity.
Dr. Scott is the author of many publications. In 1980, Dr. Scott published a critically acclaimed book entitled The Black School Superintendent: Messiah or Scapegoat? Dr. Scott was the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of the College of Education at Michigan State University in 1970. He was an active member of the Cleveland Conference, a consortium of esteemed scholars and theorists of education and pedagogical methods. In 1990, he was named to the Hall of Fame of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), an organization he helped found that furthers the aim of educational leadership and opportunity. In 1993, NABSE honored him with the distinguished service award, and in 1996 awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, NABSE dedicated its December NABSE Journal to him.
Dr. Scott is survived by his loving wife Florence I. Scott, children, MarvaLisa F. Scott and Hugh J. Scott, 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, 1 sister, 3 brothers and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2016, at the New Rochelle United Methodist Church, 1200 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10804. Viewing 10:00 – 11:30 am, with the Funeral Service following immediately at 11:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to: Dean Hugh J. Scott Scholarship Fund, Hunter College Foundation, School of Education, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065.