DALLAS — When Mike Miles came to Dallas from Colorado Springs, he was touted as a reform-minded West Point grad with the credentials and moxie to turn the Dallas Independent School District around.
Now he's headed home, yet still claiming success.
Superintendent of Dallas public schools is the job insiders say very few want, and only the tough can handle. Mike Miles made this pledge three years ago when he was introduced:
"I will wake up every day, doing my very best for the children of Dallas."
While no one questioned his dedication, Miles' transformation from small town to big city superintendent did not go smoothly. The competency of many of his top hires was questioned.
His Chief of Staff, Jerome Oberlton, was indicted and sent to prison.
His communications director, Rebecca Rodriguez, accused Miles of bid interference and bullying.
After one year on the job, Miles was accused of trying to kill an investigation into his actions, and later was found in violation of district policy.
The calls for him to resign began.
"I think in his best interest it would behoove him to submit his resignation," said Rena Honea, head of the teachers union Alliance AFT in September 2013.
Miles did not resign, and pressed forward with his reforms with full support of the Board of Trustees. Among those reforms:
- performance pay for teachers and principals
- greater accountability
- doubling the district's reserve fund balance
But after two years on the job, his management style was causing upheaval.
"Many of our best teachers have left the district, and I know that for a fact," said Dallas ISD watchdog Bill Betzen in September 2014.
Critics were not only noticing an exodus of veteran teachers, but the number of low-performing schools was on the rise.
When Trustee Bernadette Nutall questioned Miles' reassignment of a dozen teachers and a principal at Dade Middle School last fall, he had her removed from campus by police and then investigated. Miles also had the district's top two investigators removed from their jobs.
The superintendent was accused of interfering with the investigation of a top human resources official, Tonya Grayson. His head of Human Resources, Carmen Darville, resigned after the media published internal office memos containing offensive language.
The Board learned about the scandal through the media.
"Yes, absolutely, there should be further investigation," Dallas ISD Trustee Eric Cowan said in January of this year. "I'm curious about what really happened, and we will find out more in the next board meeting."
While a follow-up investigation in May implicated Tonya Grayson for trying to cover up her criminal past, Miles declined to discipline her.
All the while, tensions on the board began to mount. About the same time, Miles' critics filed a federal complaint alleging misuse of federal and state supplemental education funds.
A News 8 investigation uncovered supporting evidence, and the money had to be recoded.
"There have been some areas of concern that we need to look into a little deeper," then-Dallas ISD budget director Gilbert Prado told us in March. Days later, Prado announced he was leaving the district to take a better job in Garland.
Now — two months later — it is Mike Miles who has suddenly resigned. He says the decision was not the result of pressure; not because anything is wrong; but simply because "it's time." In his farewell speech, Miles equated his experience at Dallas ISD with Camelot.
"There's a scene in there, and y'all know the story of King Arthur and the knights, and his dreams of a Camelot where might is for right, right is for right, and justice for all," Miles said.
The only concrete reason Miles is offering for his resignation on two days' notice is to head back to Colorado to be with his wife and son. They left Dallas after being here only one year.
Miles now leaves, saying he feels good knowing he's laid the foundation for continued success.
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