WASHINGTON — Shirley Miles, the former head of the Department of Defense Education Activity who was fired last fall for nepotism and unprofessional conduct, landed a job as a schools expert working in New Jersey with her brother’s consulting firm, according to a news report.
According to TheAlternativePress.com, Miles has helped run training sessions for teachers and faculty at Paterson Public Schools over the last six months. The school district has contracted the consulting firm Focal Point to provide services including “curriculum writing” and related lessons for staff.
District officials did not respond to calls seeking additional comment on her work.
In 2010, Miles was abruptly removed as the DODEA director amid accusations she used her position to secure jobs for friends and family, including a teaching position for her daughter-in-law on Okinawa.
Last summer, an inspector general investigation confirmed those charges, and said she also received pay to which she was not entitled and engaged in “unprofessional conduct and speech” while serving as the director.
She was fired from the agency in September.
TheAlternativePress.com reported that Focal Point received $385,600 for services over the last year, although they could not say how many employees the contract included.
The website also noted that the contract sets no standards or requirements regarding the backgrounds of the consultants’ employees, even though other district employees must undergo a background check before being hired.
Miles’ brother, Mike, is one of Focal Point’s “professional developers” and the Paterson district’s point of contact for the contract.
shanel@stripes.osd.milTwitter: @LeoShane
