Carol William Hayes (born January 27, 1897, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky; died November 7, 1988) was "Director of Negro Schools" for Birmingham City Schools until his retirement in 1966.
Hayes was the son of Pinkney J. and Mary Beanan Hayes of Christian County, Kentucky. He attended public schools in his hometown, then earned a bachelor of science from Tennessee State University and a master's at Columbia University in New York, New York.
After coming to Birmingham, Hayes served as principal of Slater School and Lincoln School, then as assistant to principal A. H. Parker at Industrial High School. Dr. Hayes was named Director of Birmingham Negro Schools in 1952. After accepting the position of Director of Negro Schools he advocated for the establishment of libraries in every school, and for a teachers' professional library at Parker High School.
Dr. Hayes served as an Alabama State Department of Education delegates at the White House Conference on Education in 1955. He also served on eight different Alabama High school reviewing committees for the State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Dr. Theo R. Wright, superintendent and member of the board described Dr. Hayes as an "extremely capable and loyal educator." On January 11, 1960, the Birmingham Board of Education named a new high school to honor Dr. Hayes in the Avondale community.
He retired in 1966, shortly after the Desegregation of Birmingham City Schools.
Hayes married the former Mary Ellen Davis in 1955. They resided at 16 10th Avenue North.
Hayes K-8 School (formerly Hayes High School) was named in his honor. Hayes also served as president of the Negro division for the Birmingham Community Chest and as a visiting professor for the Birmingham center of Alabama State College.
In 1985 Hayes was made an honorary inductee into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Hayes High School was the only Black High School on the East Side of Birmingham.
