ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman welcomes you to a new series: Voices of ZCS
Voices of ZCS:
The Art of Teacher
Scott Miller’s 25-year journey blending creativity, passion and purpose at Pleasant View Elementary School
For 25 years, Scott Miller has inspired students to see the world through creativity and connection. His classroom is filled with color, curiosity, and a spirit of discovery, and his artistry extends far beyond the school walls. Watch this short video to get a glimpse of his story, then scroll down for the full feature.
Voices of ZCS: Scott Miller, Pleasant View Elementary School Art Educator
Where Art and Education Come to Life
When Scott Miller steps into his art classroom at Pleasant View Elementary School, he carries with him more than brushes, paper, and paint. He carries a legacy of educators who shaped his passion for imagining and creating that have defined his life, and a vision for helping students see the beauty of art, even if they never become artists themselves.
Miller didn’t always know teaching was his calling.
“My mother and mother-in-law were both teachers. I grew up knowing what teaching looked like,” he said. “I didn’t initially think I would be an educator, until I tried it. Tutoring elementary students early in college opened the door for me.”
That door has now been open for 25 years at PVE, where Miller began teaching in 2001. His first year was marked by the September 11th attacks, an event that reshaped schools across the nation.
“I was able to see our principal deal with parents, staff and children under incredible pressure,” Miller recalled.
His classroom back then looked quite different from his classroom today, an old TV with a VCR hung from the ceiling, digital cameras were bulky and ran on disks and he split his day teaching in two different buildings, Pleasant View Lower Elementary and Pleasant View Upper Elementary.
Even today, the heart of teaching hasn’t changed for Miller. He remembers teachers who influenced him, especially Sean Conner, his high school German teacher and later a principal at Zionsville Middle School.
“He had a way of creating a respect-filled classroom and could get the very best out of his students. I wanted to work hard for him. I strive to create that environment in my own classroom.”
Throughout the years, Miller’s classroom has become a space filled with conversation, choice, and creativity.
“Sometimes students are doing what I ask, and sometimes they’re choosing their own projects. That balance makes it feel less like a job and more like a conversation,” he said. He treasures moments when young learners connect the dots, like the second grader who recognized medieval artwork on a museum field trip. “It was fantastic to see them take something from class and apply it right there.”
PVE itself has a special place in Miller’s heart.
“My family and I moved to Zionsville in 2013 specifically because we wanted our children to experience the teaching I saw around me every day,” he said. “This building is special too. It just has a feeling all its own, with spaces like the Adventure Center, LGI, two gyms and even two cafeterias.”
Beyond school walls, Miller is an accomplished watercolor artist. What began as a renewed focus in 2020 has flourished.
“I fell back in love with painting in a huge way,” he said. “It’s so good for my mood as a creative outlet.”
Since then, his work has been featured in exhibits across Indiana and beyond, including the Indiana State Museum, Newfields, and the Zionsville Paint Out, where he’s earned top awards. His solo show at the Sugar Creek Art Center in Thorntown features 45 paintings, and another show is planned for the SullivanMunce Cultural Center.
“I try to remind my students that I’m not only their teacher. I’m also an artist,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll bring in work I’ve completed, or even my sketchbook, so they can see what I’m wrestling with artistically. I want them to know that practice builds confidence, no matter what activity they choose.”
For Miller, art is like cake.
“You might not be a great cake maker, but you can recognize it, respect it, and understand what went into it. That’s what I want for my students. To be able to see art, understand it, and value it.”
After 25 years, Miller still finds joy in the simple things like students rushing energetically to class, laughter in the halls, the spark of discovery on a child’s face.
“Why wouldn’t you want to come to a place where everyone’s excited to get to class?” he said with a smile.
For Scott Miller, art and teaching go hand in hand. A lifelong creation in progress, stitched together with care, color, and a deep belief in the power of learning.
Whether he’s helping direct a school musical, welcoming a new class of second graders or finishing a watercolor late at night, Miller continues to live at the intersection of creativity and education. And in that space, he has built a career that is less about the art on the walls and more about the people walking through the door.
“Why wouldn’t you want to come to a place where everyone’s excited to get to class?” Miller said, smiling. “That energy…it never gets old.”
Art Educator and Artist Scott Miller uses time when students are creating to create memories and keepsakes for the students.
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