The Scottsdale Unified School District is issuing this statement to provide information to parents and the community regarding the arrest of a teacher at Desert Mountain High School.

We continue to stress that the safety of our students and our schools is our top priority, and we have taken several steps, as outlined below, to ensure that safety.

Whenever the administration becomes aware of concerns about an employee, we promptly investigate the concerns, evaluate the circumstances, and take appropriate action.

Recently, Desert Mountain High School teacher Todd A. Miller was placed on administrative leave Dec. 13, with pay, pending the outcome of an investigation regarding alleged complaints from students, staff and parents. Mr. Miller was hired in August as a Spanish teacher. On Dec. 20, at the high school, while meeting with the principal to discuss performance and prior allegations, Mr. Miller was arrested by Scottsdale Police for possessing a firearm on a school campus. According to the police, weapons were found in an unoccupied vehicle that was driven to campus by Mr. Miller. It is a violation of state law to possess a deadly weapon on school grounds. Mr. Miller remains on administrative leave. Additionally, and following his arrest, the District immediately sent a notice to Mr. Miller prohibiting him from being present on any school district property and from having contact with students or employees. Next, the District sought, and was granted on Dec. 24, an injunction by the courts, prohibiting Mr. Miller to come on or near the high school or any schools or school district property, and from having any contact with students, employees, or Governing Board members.

The District has been on winter break since Dec. 23 and classes will resume Jan. 6. A substitute teacher will be in the classroom on Jan. 6, according to Brian Corte, principal.

“We will continue to be sensitive to the education needs of each student,” Mr. Corte said.

“We exercise extreme caution in such matters, which is why Mr. Miller is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” said Kim Cumby, executive director of human resource services.

Arizona law requires that a teacher be given his or her due process rights, and while the matters are under investigation, the District will reserve comment on the arrest charges, and on the separate and unrelated allegations.
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