Math Teacher Sues Oakland School for $4M After Sexual Misconduct Charges Dropped

Jeremy Taylor claims the school rushed its investigation and ignored flaws in his accuser's claims.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Jeremy Taylor, a former math teacher at the Oakland School for the Arts, is suing his former employer for at least $4 million after he was accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student. The charges were eventually dropped after a three-year legal battle, but Taylor claims the school rushed its investigation and ignored issues with his accuser's story.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges teachers can face when accused of misconduct, even when the charges are ultimately dropped. It raises questions about due process, the handling of sensitive allegations, and the lasting impact on a teacher's career.

The details

In 2022, Taylor was placed on administrative leave after a former student, then 14 years old, accused him of grooming her and having sex with her at his home. Taylor denied the details the girl provided, including that he owned a red truck and lived near a pizza shop. Despite this, the school fired him. Three months later, Taylor was arrested and charged, but the case slowly unraveled over the next three years. The charges were finally dropped in March 2025, and the girl's civil lawsuit against Taylor was also dropped, despite her already receiving $1.1 million in settlements from the school.

  • In 2022, Taylor was placed on administrative leave after the allegations.
  • In May 2022, Taylor handed himself in to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
  • In July 2022, Taylor was charged with one felony count of a lewd act with a minor aged 14 or 15.
  • In March 2025, the charges against Taylor were dropped.
  • In 2026, Taylor filed a lawsuit against the Oakland School for the Arts seeking at least $4 million in damages.

The players

Jeremy Taylor

A 50-year-old former math teacher at the Oakland School for the Arts who is suing his former employer for at least $4 million after being accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student, a charge that was later dropped.

Oakland School for the Arts

A famous California school that Taylor is suing for rushing its investigation into the allegations against him and ignoring flaws in his accuser's claims.

Jane Doe

The former 14-year-old student who accused Taylor of having a sexual relationship with her, a claim that was later dropped.

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What they’re saying

“I'm in a position of having to prove a negative. It's not enough to be found not guilty or having a case dropped.”

— Jeremy Taylor (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Everyone at OSA and in particular its administration understood that the school would benefit from an opportunity — any opportunity — to recast itself as taking a proactive stand against sexual violence.”

— Jeremy Taylor (Legal documents)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Taylor to proceed with his $4 million lawsuit against the Oakland School for the Arts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges teachers can face when accused of misconduct, even when the charges are ultimately dropped. It raises important questions about due process, the handling of sensitive allegations, and the lasting impact on a teacher's career, even after they have been cleared.