On March 6, 1854, the Chicago school board voted Dore as its first superintendent of public schools. The board's first choice, John D. Philbrick, had previously declined. He officially entered office in June 1854. At the time he took office, Chicago's school system lacked organization, and the sole power the superintendent had was the power that the school board gave him. Dore brought many reforms, but his ability to introduce sufficient reform was limited because schools were largely under the purview of the Chicago Common Council. He introduced examinations to re-classify students and determine promotions, he organized departments, instituted in uniformity of textbooks, and had instituted official the keeping of class registers and attendance records. He resigned on March 15, 1856. When he left, school enrollment had doubled to more than 6,100, 46 new instructors had been hired, and four new schools (including a high school) had been constructed.
