Principal Scott Miller will gladly talk about his family, or the amazing students and staff at Weston Elementary School that have welcomed him this school year.
But humble at heart, Miller– a passionate educator for three decades– finds it difficult to share about himself.
Miller took on the role of principal at Greenfield-Central’s Weston over the summer, and says the first quarter of the school year has been smooth thanks to the community that has supported him over the years.
He has stayed true to his core beliefs of hard work and keeping students first, said Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin. Miller– who has worked in various roles in GC schools for 28 years– supports his teachers and local families with a calm demeanor of keeping kids first.
“He is incredibly humble– never seeking to be the center of attention,” Olin added. “That is simply who he is professionally. The first quarter of the school year has been everything I thought it would be to have Mr. Miller at the helm of Weston. He quietly takes care of his students and teachers every day.”
The “door’s always open,” Miller says from his principal’s office.
If a parent needs to come in and ask a question, he tries to meet with them right then and there.
If a student is struggling in class, he’ll offer a snack from a cart and have a chat.
After all, we all get a little “hangry” sometimes.
One girl recently came to school late, upset and already having a hard day. Miller knew this girl loves basketball, so after she checked in with her teacher, he spent a little time with her.
“I pulled her out of the class and we just talked and shot some baskets,” he said.
The longtime coach says sometimes the court is the place to open up and share, or switch gears into a brighter start of the day.
Those who have known Miller over the years use one common word to describe him: “approachable.”
Danielle Blackburn, president of the Weston PTO, says Miller has quickly impressed the Weston community by being calm, collected and approachable.
“I was immediately struck by his depth of knowledge, and genuine willingness to offer thoughtful guidance during our early PTO meeting,” she said.
A married father of three grown children, Miller understands family life, and how it intertwines with education. That helps create a welcome and reassuring atmosphere to students and parents alike, Blackburn said.
Miller, originally from New Palestine, graduated from NPHS in 1989 and earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Indianapolis.
It was a switch from his original plan of accounting. After two years, he realized he wanted a career that combined his passion with helping others with athletics.
He first began teaching in 1994 at a small school in Valparaiso. He was excited to land a job closer to home in 1997 with GC schools, when he began teaching seventh grade social studies.
“During that time, I also served as the high school varsity baseball coach, allowing me to combine my passion for education with my love of athletics,” he said.
He was a highly-effective teacher, and held a variety of positions at the former Greenfield Middle School as well as Harris Elementary School, J.B. Stephens Elementary School and– most recently– Maxwell Intermediate School. While he has served as dean of students and assistant principal, this is his first year as a principal.
“I accepted the principal position at Weston Elementary because I was excited about the opportunity to lead a school with such a strong reputation for community, student success, and dedicated staff,” Miller said. “Weston felt like the right place for me to continue growing as a leader while making a meaningful impact on students’ lives. I was drawn to the chance to build on the school’s strengths, support teachers in their work, and create a positive and engaging environment where students can thrive both academically and personally.”
Miller had earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Ball State University in 2012. Over the last decade, he committed to growing professionally in foundational reading.
Now a full-fledged GC Cougar, Miller says over the years he has come to love this community and the parents who have supported him.
His first day on the job, he received emails and personal greetings from many staff members– several coming in over the summer before school started to welcome him to the Weston family.
“I think they trust me and what I believe in,” he said. “They just came out and welcomed me, and that’s the Greenfield way.”
Miller tries to build strong relationships with staff, students and families.
He’s still working on getting to know every student’s name, but is determined to get each name right. He learns names by never sitting still: he loves to visit with children at lunch, step into classrooms to land a helping hand.
Miller is grateful for an experienced and dedicated administration and social work staff at Weston. He is amazed at how much hard work the Weston teachers put in. Teachers work together well in teams by grade level, and join together each Tuesday to collaborate as a group. He credits Meg Welch, who was principal of Weston for five years, for laying a strong foundation at the school.
The PTO has been a great support as well, assisting with the students and the teachers to make everything run just a bit smoother
“It’s off to a great start, and I feel like we’re going to get better and better,” he said.
Olin said it’s been a pleasure to work with Miller for more than 25 years, and he is grateful for his leadership.
“He is a solid professional educator respected by all who work with him, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him on the GC leadership team,” Olin said.
By Maribeth Vaughn
“He is a solid professional educator respected by all who work with him, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him on the GC leadership team,” Olin said.