A teacher and coach at Chiddix Junior High in Normal is on leave following a police search warrant executed at the school and his home last week.
Communication sent to families of students in Andrew “Drew” Miller’s seventh grade science and language arts classroom said Miller will be “out of the classroom for the foreseeable future.”
The email obtained by WGLT said another teacher will step in as a “long-term substitute” in Miller’s classroom, effective Monday.
A Unit 5 spokesperson said the district was notified Wednesday morning that Bloomington Police planned to execute a search warrant at Chiddix. WGLT has learned the school instituted a “soft lockdown,” holding students and staff in place while police conducted the search. Miller had not arrived at school that morning. Unit 5 confirmed an employee has since been placed on paid administrative leave of all duties.
Bloomington Police initially declined to comment on whether Miller is the subject of an investigation. A department spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed that multiple search warrants were executed related to the investigation of a Unit 5 teacher.
Police have not indicated what were searching for or the nature of allegations. Rumors swirled online in the days after the search, which happened while students were in school.
In 2019, police in North Utica investigated Miller over an allegation of verbal comments to a juvenile during a cheer camp stay at a hotel, after receiving a referral from Normal Police. That was related to Miller’s work as a cheer coach at University High School in Normal, not his Chiddix job. Authorities in LaSalle County investigated and determined the comments were not criminal and would not result in any charges. He was placed on leave during the 2019 investigation and reinstated.
According to a LinkedIn profile, Miller has been employed by Unit 5 Schools since 2011. He also coaches track and field at Chiddix.
An email and Facebook message to Miller were not returned.
