According to Interim Superintendent Karen Clark, Riley was found dead on the morning of Sept.8 in his apartment in Virginia. At this time, the district is unaware of the exact cause of death or any additional information about funeral or memorial services.

Clark asks that the community please keep Riley’s wife Gail and his daughter Michelle in their thoughts during this difficult time.

Mike Riley served as Bellevue’s Superintendent for 11 years, beginning in 1996. Often praised as a visionary educator and strong leader, Riley focused his energy on raising teacher quality and providing a college level education to all students in the district. He addressed Bellevue school’s weak test scores; raising the level of education equality to all minority, immigrant and low-income students.

Over the years, Riley worked to develop a common curriculum for the district’s 16,000 students and increased the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses by roughly 70 percent. While in his position, he partnered with the College Board to ensure more teachers would receive the proper training for rigorous curriculum. A record setting number of teachers received National Board certification.

Riley left the district in 2007 to pursue a job as vice president for college readiness at the College Board in Virginia.