This fall, Darryl Miles made the journey from reputable English teacher to trusted vice principal, continuing a career arc that has seen him serve in the armed forces and private business.

Prior to college, he served in the Navy for 20 years and traveled around the world three times. After his service, Miles worked in private industry for three years with ENRON. He graduated from Portland State in 2007, with a masters degree in education. After teaching for nine years, seven of those at Cleveland, it was finally time for him to move into administration and all the responsibilities attached.

Last year, Miles was an English teacher in Stumptown Academy, an I.B. English teacher, and the dean of students. In order to become an administrator, one must complete 360 hours of practice. Being a dean helped him complete such extensive hours and gain confidence in his new position. Usually when teachers transfer to administration, they are placed in a different building; however, Miles was able to continue at Cleveland.

Miles confessed, “I’ve had some mixed feelings, meaning I’ve had some feelings of wanting to be a teacher again, not because I don’t like the job, but because I miss the interaction with students.”

Transitioning from a classroom to an office can be difficult, but luckily Miles has support from the student body and teaching staff. He hopes his relationship skills from teaching will help to make the administration and student collaboration less formal.

Because Miles is well acquainted with Cleveland’s community, students, and building, he can concentrate fully on the specifics of vice principal. His duties include: ninth to 11th grade discipline, dances, field trips, student lockers, student challenges and security specific matters.

Miles has bonded with many Cleveland students and wants to help eliminate their school based problems. He explained, “The difference between when I was in class helping kids get through specific challenges, in my case it was English and literature, and now, is, I’m helping kids get through challenges from school overall.”

Miles is adamant about freshmen having a good starting foundation; he hopes to make their transition into high school smooth and create a platform that will make the rest of their schooling easier.

In relation to Cleveland’s dances, in particular homecoming, Miles explained that the teachers and administration have an obligation to parents to keep all students safe and comfortable. He considers this year a clean slate of behavior at dances, and a Winter Formal is scheduled to occur. However, if dance behavior is out of control Miles will not hesitate to remove dance privileges. “Students control their destiny of dances,” Miles said.

“What you put out is what you get back.” This is Miles’ mantra. He has a reputation of fairness. These beliefs and his leadership skills from the classroom and the U.S. Navy will serve him well on his journey into administration. “I’m here for kids,” says Miles, “My major goal is for students to get what they want.”