Serra High School Principal Gets New Job

"Sadly, my last day at Serra will be Friday, August 12th," Vincent Mays writes

The principal of a San Diego-area high school who was accused of falsely claiming to hold a doctorate degree is being reassigned to the central district office, NBC 7 has learned.

The Serra High School principal signed the email using the title that caused controversy and prompted teachers to demand his removal.

"Sadly, my last day at Serra will be Friday, August 12th," Vincent Mays wrote Wednesday in an email to parents of Serra High School.

He explained that the San Diego Unified School District extended an offer Tuesday for a new position.

"The position is so attractive that I could not refuse it. It will expand my role regarding equity initiatives," Mays wrote.

In a statement, the district said Mays will work to support commitments to improve student achievement.

β€œIn particular, his work will support commitments to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap for African, African American and Latino students. The district will follow normal protocol in replacing Principal Mays at Serra," the statement reads.

"It is our hope to have a new principal in place before the start of school. In the interim, qualified, experienced administrators will be put in place to provide a smooth transition. Last year, Serra students achieved an estimated 97 percent graduation rate. Working together, we are confident Serra High can achieve new levels of success in the future," the statement says.

Mays was accused by one group of teachers of being a bully and claiming to have a doctorate degree from a university that does not exist.

"From the beginning the issues with Mr. Mays were about his leadership, his treatment of female staff members, and his personal academic record. Every claim we brought forward was supported by data, survey results, witness reports, and careful research," Ralf Ubel, one of the teachers who filed the complaints, told NBC 7 in a previous interview.

The district's Office of Quality Assurance launched an investigation into the teachers' claims after they filed a complaint in May.

According to his resume found online, Mays says he received his Ph.D. from Stamford Hill University.

NBC 7 Investigates found there was no record of the school from the U.S. Department of Education, no record of the school from the Florida State Department of Education and no business licenses, now or in the past.

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