OAKLAND — A PE teacher at Alameda County’s juvenile hall has been placed on leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct started by incarcerated girls, this news organization has learned.
Matthew Keith Campbell, 60, was placed on leave late last month after two girls reported that they recognized him as a “john” from when the minors were being trafficked on International Boulevard in Oakland, according to multiple sources. The girls’ statements have triggered concurrent administrative and criminal investigations, run by the county and Oakland police respectively.
Campbell teaches physical education at the Butler Academic Center at Alameda County’s Juvenile Hall. He was honored last year as one of the Alameda County Office of Education’s “Teachers of the Year,” which lauded his 30-year teaching career and described him as a dedicated educator who goes out of his way to help failing children earn their PE credits.
“Working with incarcerated students, he brings the outside world to his students so they can envision a brighter future for themselves and be better prepared for success upon release,” a still-existing post on the county’s website says.
But Campbell came under scrutiny last month, when two teens reported that they recognized Campbell as a man who paid them for sexual services when they were being trafficked in Oakland, the sources said. One of the girls alleged that Campbell made students get into sexual poses during stretching, and would stand over them as they did so, authorities said.
One of the girls also told police that Campbell was seen several times in areas known for prostitution, and that he’d allegedly hand out pepper spray and hand sanitizer to sex workers. The girl said she interpreted that as Campbell creating an excuse to talk to them, according to authorities.
Campbell has retained Elizabeth Grossman, an attorney who specializes in school discipline as well as criminal law. When this news organization contacted Campbell for comment, Grossman later left a voice message with a reporter. She didn’t respond to a half-dozen subsequent attempts to contact her for an interview.
The Alameda County Office of Education released a brief statement saying it was the agency that first contacted authorities, but declining to comment further due to the pending administrative investigation.
“Upon learning of these allegations, we immediately placed the employee on leave pending a full investigation and reported the allegations to law enforcement and social services,” the statement says.
In a two-minute video for Campbell’s teacher of the year recognition, Campbell said his goal as an educator is to teach kids personal responsibility, not just health and fitness.
“I think the big thing I want kids to take away from my class is being responsible and respectful,” Campbell said. “Because it really doesn’t matter how smart you are. If you don’t know how to conduct yourself, then the real world doesn’t really care about your personal problems.”