Miles is the founder and CEO of Third Future Schools, a charter network based on fundamentally different principles of operating schools. A leader in education reform, Mike devotes his time to creating schools that will prepare students for a Year 2030 workplace.  Prior to his latest work, Mike served three years as the Superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District and six years as the Superintendent of the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs.  Under his leadership, both districts implemented ground-breaking initiatives, established a high-performance culture, and experienced significant growth in student achievement.  As an instructional leader and professional developer, Mike has also helped teachers and administrators in school districts nationally to improve instruction and raise achievement. 

Mike has also served the public interest as a soldier and statesman.  He served as a Company Commander and in the Army’s elite Ranger Battalion. Mike later served in the U.S. State Department as a Soviet analyst and member of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.  He then served as a Diplomat to Poland and Russia at the end of the Cold War, finishing his State Department work as the Special Assistant to the Ambassador to Russia. 

Mike holds degrees from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of California at Berkeley, and Columbia University. 

Mr. Craddock is the head of school leadership and was the founding principal of the Academy of Advanced Learning in Aurora, Colorado.  Prior to arriving at the Academy of Advanced Learning, Zach served as the Executive Director of Individualized Learning in District 49.  During his time with District 49, Zach provided leadership that resulted in record literacy gains across the District supporting 20 campuses and over 21,000 students.

Before serving in District 49, Zach was the Principal at Sierra High School in Colorado Springs, Co.  Mr. Craddock led Sierra High School to their highest ACT scores in school history, the highest accreditation ranking through the Colorado Department of Education and lowest drop-out rate in school history.

Zach Craddock is starting his twenty-third year in education and has also served as a high school teacher, high school coach, Assistant Principal, and Special Services director in Colorado and Georgia.

Mr. Craddock holds an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina-Aiken and a masters’ degree in Educational Leadership from Albany State University.

zcraddock@aalk8.org