Jeremy Taylor had just finished dinner at home in Oakland after a day of teaching when his phone rang, his principal’s name lighting up the screen. The words he heard next, he recalled, barely registered: Allegations of misconduct. Administrative leave, effective immediately. Don’t come to school. An investigation. Wait for further information.
It was Jan. 4, 2022, and Taylor was in his 18th year at Oakland School for the Arts, a charter school whose famous former students include actor Zendaya and Olympic skater Alysa Liu. He had received stellar performance reviews and was popular among students, who once honored him as the “sassiest” teacher for the yearbook.
Taylor was left to speculate about the reason for the investigation, he said — perhaps a student’s concern over something spoken in class, or anger at a disciplinary action. Whatever it was, he hoped he could soon get back to students he feared would miss out on their government and psychology coursework…