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GREENSBORO — An assistant principal who resigned from Grimsley High School this week is currently under investigation by the Connecticut Department of Education.

Kevin S. Miller resigned from the school Monday for personal reasons, according to a statement by Guilford County Schools. The district declined to provide details on the resignation, citing public records law.

Miller, 45, resigned as principal of East Hartford High School in East Hartford, Conn., in March 2007 after two months of employment. This followed a complaint substantiated by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families that Miller acted improperly toward a 15-year-old student, according to several news reports.

The Department of Education started investigating whether to revoke Miller's education certification last year, following a request by Marion Martinez , superintendent of East Hartford Public Schools.

The department hopes to complete its investigation by early spring, said Nancy Pugliese, chief of the bureau for education standards and certification. Educators whose certifications have been revoked or suspended are listed in a national database maintained by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, she said.

"Depending on how serious the allegations were would determine whether there is reinstatement (of the certification)," Pugliese said.
Guilford County Schools hired Miller in August and states on its Web site that he was, at the time, a principal in New Haven, Conn.

However, though Miller did previously work in New Haven Public Schools, the East Hartford Board of Education minutes show that he was principal at East Hartford High School between January and March.

"The information provided on the Board report was the exact information provided to us by Mr. Miller," the Guilford County Schools statement says regarding the discrepancy.

The district says it was not aware of prior allegations and followed its normal protocol of screening applicants, which includes a structured interview, a follow-up interview, reference checks with previous employers and a criminal records check.

Calls to Grimsley were directed to district officials. Efforts by the News & Record to reach Miller by phone and e-mail were unsuccessful.

Steve Hodgin will serve as interim assistant principal at Grimsley until a permanent replacement is hired.

Hodgin also served as an interim principal at Eastern Guilford High School in the spring of 2007.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com