Stephen Miller said he resigned as principal of Buford High to spend more time with his 10 children. Miller said Wednesday he is looking for a position at an elementary or middle school in districts surrounding his Forsyth home.

"With lower grades I'll have more time with my family," Miller said. "I'll be able to wear more of my daddy hat and less of my principal hat."

Miller said his resignation was not linked to a claim filed against him in magistrate court or an ethics complaint filed with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission by a Buford High graduate. Miller resigned in January. The lawsuit and ethics complaint were filed earlier this month.

Buford High is the only high school for the Buford City Schools system. Miller, who has worked for the district for about 2 1/2 years, will remain for the rest of the year. Banks Bitterman, the current principal of the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, will become the new Buford High principal.

Joshua Pugh filed the magistrate claim and ethics complaint against Miller because of what he described as the principal's wrong-doing. Pugh is seeking $5,819 in legal fees plus punitive damages.

Pugh said Miller made false statements about his possible involvement in several racial incidents at the school in 2006. The incidents included a fight, a racist letter and slurs written on the lockers of black students. Miller expelled Pugh for a year following a school tribunal on the incidents, according to the claim. The Buford school board later overturned the expulsion.

Miller declined to comment on the specifics of Pugh's claim, saying he is not allowed to discuss students' disciplinary records.

Miller said he was surprised by the lawsuit. "Quite frankly, I've never dealt with anything like this," he said.

The state standards commission will decide next month whether to investigate Miller, said Gary Walker, director of the Educator Ethics Division for the group. The commission disciplines educators. If the group finds Miller violated the state ethics code, it could take action ranging from a warning to revoking his teaching license.