Eric Miller was hired to help restore confidence in a school district mired in one of the worst financial crises in its history.
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Yet the administrator tapped to help Evanston-Skokie District 65 get its financial house in order was repeatedly written up for incidents creating a hostile work environment as early as 2017 at his previous employer, Glenview District 34, according to documents obtained by Pioneer Press.
Records of the incidents, received through a Freedom of Information Act request, detail repeated allegations that Miller made comments to former employees that they reported as “harassing, bullying and intimidating” while he served as Glenview District 34’s assistant superintendent of business services.
Before District 65 hired Miller two months ago, officials had been aware that Glenview District 34 had disciplined him for “unprofessional interactions” with employees in 2025, said District 65 spokeswoman Melissa Messinger. When a Pioneer Press reporter asked whether District 65 had known that the Glenview district disciplined Miller eight years earlier, Messinger acknowledged it had not.
“It was only through additional due diligence conducted after Mr. Miller’s hire that District 65 became aware of this information,” Messinger wrote to Pioneer Press.
Miller did not respond to a request for comment on his record at District 34.
Glenview District 34’s records state that in 2019, Miller called an employee an “(expletive) up” while hitting the table with his fist. Also in 2019, he addressed an employee with “Did you learn anything at your other job or did you sit there with your thumb up your (expletive)?,” according to the records.
The district’s records show one employee told its human resources department they felt “belittled, bullied, offended and shocked” by Miller, while others found his conduct to be “demeaning, offensive, or bizarre.”
Miller held that position for 11 years, from 2015 through March 2026, according to District 34 spokesperson Rebecca Latham. Records show the district gave Miller opportunities for counseling during that time.
District records show that employees made complaints about Miller in March 2018, September 2019, October 2019, January 2025 and February 2025.
Miller signed a “Last Chance Agreement” with the Glenview district, agreeing to “consistently conform his future conduct to the District’s policies and expectations,” in April 2025.
About six months later, Miller signed a resignation letter on Oct. 7, 2025, indicating he would remain on paid leave through his effective resignation date of March 11, 2026.
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In June 2026, the District 65 Board approved Miller and announced he would take the reins of its finance department, succeeding former CFO Tamara Mitchell, who had resigned. Miller started as CFO July 1.
Interim District 65 Superintendent Eric Witherspoon “has had direct and candid conversations with Mr. Miller regarding his past behavior,” and will hold him accountable to standards of professionalism and respect, Messinger, the district spokesperson, said.
Messinger added that Miller “conveyed during our hiring process that he voluntarily chose to resign his employment in Glenview District 34 for personal reasons.”
Messinger said the district had vetted Miller and he expressed remorse for his previous behavior toward employees in District 34 and viewed it as an opportunity for growth.
District 65 officials hoped the leadership change could further quell anxieties over the $10-15 million budget reductions needed to make up its current deficit. They have already made over $6 million in cutbacks for the district’s upcoming 2027 fiscal year budget, as of its May 4 School Board meeting.
Witherspoon told Pioneer Press he had had several conversations with Miller since stepping into his new role.
“I am confident in his financial expertise, and more importantly, his ability to lead with integrity and professionalism,” Witherspoon said. “I hold high standards for all leaders and our team will ensure the necessary supports are in place to set Mr. Miller and all district leaders up for success.”