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Mike Miles Reflects On His Time As Dallas ISD's Leader

Dallas ISD/YouTube
Dallas Superintendent Mike Miles announced his resignation earlier this week.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles makes his final school board appearance Thursday night.  He announced his resignation on Tuesday. When Miles first arrived in Dallas, he had much different plans.

Miles moved here in 2012, saying he would stay in Dallas until he died. On Wednesday, on KERA’s Think, Miles told Krys Boyd that he pretty much meant it, even though most Dallas superintendents last just a few years.

“My family moved down here, that was a huge decision,” Miles said. “We bought a house. My son and my wife were here, and so, no, we were here for the long haul.”

That didn’t work out. Even before Miles arrived, his reform efforts in Colorado Springs prompted initial opposition among teachers. But then other problems arose. Critics attacked some cabinet choices and the high salaries they were paid. On Wednesday, Miles said those salaries are in line for top cabinet members.

“We’ve hired some great talent in this district. Our chiefs are first rate. They’re a very stable group, a very professional group. Talk about their salaries. If you look at the market study that was done independently, we are below the median in every chief position. Every single one,” Miles said.

Salaries were just the start of other problems. They ranged from unexpected resignations by executives here for less than a year to a chief of staff who quit because of a pending federal indictment. He’s now in prison for taking kickbacks in a previous job.

Miles says he’s confident the current cabinet can carry out the reforms now in place and supported by the board. Miles gives his farewell to that board Thursday night.

On Friday night, Dallas ISD trustees will hold a special meeting about finding their next superintendent.  

Listen to Miles' conversation with KERA's Krys Boyd here.

Bill Zeeble has been a full-time reporter at KERA since 1992, covering everything from medicine to the Mavericks and education to environmental issues.