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Miles Defends High Cabinet-Level Salaries

Incoming Dallas Superintendent Mike Miles defended his moves so far, including hiring his communications director for more than twice her salary in Colorado Springs.

Miles said the $185,000 salary for Jennifer Sprague, which exceeds that of Dallas Police Chief Brown or the White House spokesperson, is worth it for the cabinet level position.

"There’s a paradigm shift we’re all going to have to get used to and that is we’re going to look at leadership and competency and find the best qualified people to do the job and then we’re going to pay them commensurate with their experience and competency," Miles said. "That goes for teachers and principals. I hope that in Dallas, within the next few years, we’ll have the highest paid principals in state. I hope we will have the highest paid teachers in the state."

Miles gathered in a retreat with board members Saturday. Board President Lew Blackburn backed Miles salary choices. So did newly elected trustee Dan Micciche, although the freshman board member said he might have hired Sprague for less money.

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