Miller has seen “over 6,000 students graduate from Edward Little,” said Superintendent Katy Grondin during a ceremony at Park Avenue Elementary School. “Think about how many lives he’s touched over his career.” 

Miller has been “very student-centered, an advocate not just for students, but his staff,” Grondin said. “His staff tells me he’s created a family here — we want that to continue.”

Miller announced in January that he was retiring. The new principal will be Scott Annear, who is an assistant principal.

Also retiring is Carol Miller, his wife. She is the technology integrator for Auburn schools.

The couple said they’ll relax in July and August.

“In September, we’ll look around and see what happens,” he said. “We may go to Florida for a little bit.”

Others retiring from the Auburn School Department are high school teachers Candy Gleason, who chairs the English Department and has coached students in giving speeches, especially at graduation. Also retiring are English teacher Cathy Adamson and social studies teacher John Daly.

Another retiring from the high school is librarian Patricia Gautier.

Grondin said Gautier is known for being an advocate of Auburn and Edward Little.

“She’s always been part of the Building Committee, accreditation, the Charter Commission” and more,” Grondin said. An advocate for Auburn, she’s quick to ask, “‘When are we getting a new high school? What do we do?'” Grondin said.

Other retirees are Linda Blier-Austin, a teacher at Franklin Alternative School; Fairview Elementary School teachers Patricia DeFilipp, Susan Sawyer and Marci Ellingwood; Karla Downs, a Park Avenue Elementary School teacher; and Auburn Middle School guidance counselor Martha Stone.

Even after 25, 30, 35 or 40 years of coming to school each fall, “you made it a new year for the students,” Grondin told the retirees. “Each year for them is a new beginning. You kept that commitment. We appreciate that.”