Tuscaloosa’s Superintendent Mike Daria to Retire Next Year After Decade in Role

The superintendent of the Tuscaloosa City Schools System will retire at the end of the next academic year with the blessing of the Board of Education, they announced on Wednesday.

Mike Daria has led the TCS system since 2016 and his time as its superintendent caps a 30-year career in education, almost exclusively in the city school system.

At a Tuesday night Board of Education meeting, Daria asked for his contract to be reduced from five years to four, which will now see his employment end on June 30th, 2026.

They unanimously approved his request.

Get our free mobile app

Daria, the 2023 State Superintendent of the Year, has also spent time teaching English and as an assistant principal, principal, executive director of personnel, and assistant superintendent.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the students, educators, and families of Tuscaloosa City Schools over the past three decades," Daria said in a statement. "Every step of this journey has deepened my belief in the power of public education to change lives. While I could joyfully continue this work for another ten years, I believe now is the right time to step aside and make space for the next chapter — for me, for my family, and for this incredible school system."

Daria has been a champion for academic improvement within the system. He said the path that took underperforming schools from very low letter grades to scores in the A's and B's has had the added benefit of earning TCS both state and national recognition.

"This progress reflects the unwavering commitment and hard work from our board of education, teachers, staff, students, and families," Daria said.

In addition to academic improvement under Daria's tenure, TCS became an early partner in the Saban Center, which will break ground in downtown Tuscaloosa within the next few months. The $100 Million+ STEM-focused learning hub is expected to be a state-of-the-art center for educating children and teachers alike.

The announcement also follows last year's failed push to raise property taxes and raise millions for the school system annually, which will leave the board and superintendent with very difficult decisions about where to make budget cuts in years to come.

For more from Daria himself and coverage of the eventual search for the person to replace him, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.