A source close to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School district confirmed to the Sun today that Brian Hook, a former teacher and coach at Pioneer Valley High School, has been put on leave without pay.
The district’s school board decided in closed session the evening of March 12 to place the certificated employee on compulsory leave of absence without pay pursuant to Education Code section 44940, which pertains to sexual offense charges.
Hook pleaded not guilty on Feb. 28 to felony charges related to having sex with a minor.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on April 3.
This article appears in Mar 13-20, 2014.