District Leadership

Our Mission

    Phone: 205-759-3560

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    Degrees and Certifications:

    Dr. Mike Daria

    Mike Daria's urgency to close the achievement gap is to ensure each and every student achieves personal, academic, and career excellence as defined by the system's mission statement.

    Daria is a veteran educator who has served in the Tuscaloosa City Schools all but one year in the system--his first starting in 1996. He worked as a TCS English teacher, assistant principal, principal, executive director of personnel, and assistant superintendent prior to his current role.  

    A hallmark of his administration has been his commitment to engaging stakeholders on the path of progress for students. 
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      For Daria, the work starts with the foundation: kindergarten. Under his leadership, TCS teachers were empowered to re-envision the kindergarten curriculum so that students are reading on grade level by the time they reach third grade. The early results show that the effort is working, too. This initiative is coupled with the system's award-winning summer learning academy, which was designed to reinforce skills learned to avoid the phenomenon called the "summer slide." Results show that students who participated in TCS summer learning programs didn't see the summer slide like their peers who did not attend. In 2020, TCS debuted the ELEVATE Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program, backed by the City Council.

      "I absolutely am always looking to improve to do better and do more and that really does put me on the run a good bit, but I really wouldn't have it any other way," said Daria, who was named one of 25 Superintendents to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association in 2017.

      He and his wife Susy have two children. Nicholas attended the Tuscaloosa City Schools and now attends The University of Alabama. Tyler attends the Tuscaloosa City Schools.  Daria earned his doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama and earned National Superintendent Certification through AASA in 2020.

    • Other Career Highlights

      Other highlights for Daria and his team include:

      • Implementation of the Digital Transformation
      • Development of the TCS Graduate Profile
      • National School Public Relations Association Superintendents to Watch (2017)
      • Designation with U.S. Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon for Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools-Middle (2016) and Rock Quarry Elementary School (2018)
      • Designation with U.S. Department of Commerce's National Green Ribbon for Woodland Forrest Elementary School (2018)
      • Recipient of Cognia's STEM certification for University Place Elementary School (2018)
        Heart Safe Schools Award
      • Recognition by CLAS: District 4 CLAS Banner School, Central High School, and District 7 CLAS
      • School of Distinction Award, Verner Elementary School (2018)
      • Recognition as Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence for Eastwood Middle School (2019)
      • Recognition Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence for Westlawn Middle School (2020)
      • AASA National Superintendent Certification Program® (2020)
      • Alabama Community Education Association (ACEA) 2020 Superintendent of the Year
      • Distinguished Community-Engaged Scholar Community Partner (2020)
      • Blackboard Catalyst Award (2020)

    • Contact Dr. Daria
    • Follow Dr. Daria on Twitter
    • Read TCS Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • View TCS Job Board