Miller

A Miller Middle School teacher has been arrested and charged with assault in connection after an alleged incident involving a student last Monday.

On Feb. 13, the Marshalltown Police Department initiated an investigation involving an allegation made by a 13-year-old male student who reported that he had been assaulted by his teacher, 60-year-old Paul Philip Miller, while in class.

A criminal complaint details the allegations, indicating that the situation escalated when the victim moved his desk and Miller became upset.

“The defendant approached the victim and forcefully shoved the desk against the victim’s stomach, pinning the victim against the wall with the desk. The defendant held pressure on the desk trapping the victim for 30 to 60 seconds,” the complaint reads. “The victim was eventually able to stand up to get out from behind the desk. The defendant then slapped the victim in the face. The victim complained of pain to his face, had minor redness to his left cheek, and has suffered from emotional distress following the assault.”

Miller admitted to school administrators that he had assaulted the victim, according to the complaint. Following an investigation, the MPD arrested Miller, who resides in Boone, and charged him with assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

He was taken into custody on Saturday and has since been released after posting bond. An appearance is scheduled for Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m.

According to MCSD Director of Communications Abby Koch, Miller submitted his resignation on Feb. 12, the day of the alleged incident, and is no longer an employee of the school district. Koch also issued a statement Monday.

“On Monday, Feb. 12, a student and teacher had a physical altercation in a classroom. The

district immediately began the investigative process in accordance with our established

procedures and, effective immediately, the teacher is no longer an employee of Marshalltown

Community School District,” she said. “While we are not able to disclose any further information at this time due to confidentiality required by law, we can say that the student and staff safety and well-being are our highest priorities and we will not tolerate acts of violence toward anyone in the district.”

In 2022, Miller was placed on administrative leave from his prior job teaching sixth grade math and science at South Hardin Middle School and eventually resigned after strongly criticizing former President Donald Trump and his supporters during a class.