Dr. James Henry Naylor was born in Schuylerville, New York on August 3, 1869 to son of Jerome and Elizabeth Babcock Naylor. He attended public school in New York and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1895 with the distinction of having honor grades all four years. He was also a noted baseball player, a third baseman. He signed to play professional baseball with the Baltimore Orioles, but decided to abandon that career for one in medicine. In the summer of 1895 he became an intern at Hartford Hospital and after receiving his medical degree, went into private practice. In 1902 he received the first of many governmental appointments as clerk of the Board of Health under newly elected Mayor Sullivan.

In 1909 he won election to the South School District Committee which he held until the consolidation into one district in 1934. He had strongly opposed the consolidation of the districts. When it happened, he quit all educational work in Hartford for several years. In 1939 he successfully ran for a seat on the Board of Education and served as president from 1941-1943. At his direction the South District was one of the first to adopt a health program which included physical exams and treatment, special lunches for undernourished students, inoculations against diphtheria and lung X-rays.

In 1927 the plans were being drawn up for a new grammar school on Franklin Avenue to replace the old Lincoln School. At the suggestion of Patrick McGovern, a state senator, it was voted to name the new school the Dr. James H. Naylor School in his honor The school was officially dedicated on March 1, 1929.

Dr. Naylor organized and was the first president of the South End Bank and Trust Company, was a thirty second degree Mason in Hartford Lodge F and AM, a member of the Shrine and Knights Templar and a member of the University Club.

Dr. Naylor died on December 25, 1950 and following the service at South Congregational Church in Hartford was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The Dr. James H. Naylor School was built in 1927-1929 and designed by firm of Whiton & McMahon

The Dr. James H. Naylor/CCSU Leadership Academy works in partnership with our children, families and the community to ensure students succeed in and beyond school.

The vision of Dr. James H. Naylor/CCSU Leadership Academy is to create a community of active learners, where we all interact collaboratively with parents and community organizations to empower students to transform our world. 

At the Leadership Academy we:

• Believe that all children can learn.

• Nurture the unique heart, mind, and body of each child by using a variety of teaching methods and instructional strategies that address different learning styles.

• Encourage students to strive to their fullest potential by meeting the challenging academic standards in every content area through authentic learning experiences that address and solve real problems.

• Create a teaching and learning environment in which all staff continually receive opportunities to upgrade skills and to reflect and assess effective teaching practices.