Mike Miles is an American educator and public official renowned for his contentious leadership in education reform, particularly in Texas. Born in 1952, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974 and served as a U.S. Army officer before transitioning to education administration. His early career included roles as a school principal and superintendent in Colorado, where he led the Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs from 1995 to 2005, implementing data-driven reforms that improved student performance but drew criticism for their intensity. In 2005, Miles became superintendent of the Austin Independent School District, focusing on accountability measures until his appointment as Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner in July 2007 by Governor Rick Perry. As TEA Commissioner from 2007 to 2012, Miles oversaw significant overhauls to Texas's school accountability system, introducing the Public Education Grant program and interventions for low-performing schools, which were praised by some for raising standards but condemned by teachers' unions and Democrats for being overly punitive and leading to school closures. His tenure was marked by controversies, including allegations of conflicts of interest and resistance from local districts. After resigning from the TEA in 2012, Miles served as superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) from 2012 to 2015, where his 'Objective 2015' plan aimed at dramatic improvements but resulted in teacher firings, protests, and his ouster amid a $12 million buyout. Subsequently, he founded the Miles Foundation, a nonprofit supporting education initiatives. In June 2023, following a state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) due to academic failures, Miles was appointed superintendent, reigniting debates over his top-down approach amid ongoing legal challenges from the district and unions.