OXNARD, Calif. (AP) - A junior high school teacher was placed on leave as a school district investigates whether she was moonlighting as a porn star, officials said.
Meanwhile, students at the Southern California campus were asked not to search Internet sex sites for images of the teacher, the district said in a letter to parents.
A video that prompted the investigation does not involve any district students.
The Haydock Intermediate School teacher, whose name hasn't been released, was placed on paid administrative leave this week by the Oxnard School District.
"It has been alleged that one of our teachers is depicted in at least one pornographic video and possibly others on the Internet," superintendent Jeff Chancer said in the Tuesday letter to parents at the district's three junior high schools.
"We are asking teachers to discourage the children from searching for and/or visiting these inappropriate sites," Chancer wrote.
Chancer was asked Wednesday if the curiosity of 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds might actually be piqued by the notice.
"I don't know," he said.
There's no moral turpitude clause in the teacher's contract, Chancer said. But the California Education Code outlines teacher employment conditions that could lead to discipline or termination, he said.
"We're trying to determine if there's a nexus on what she does on her own time and what she does in the classroom," Chancer said.
The Oxnard Police Department was notified, but spokeswoman Monica Munoz said there was no criminal investigation.
Allegations first came to the attention of school administrators because of student rumors sweeping the Haydock campus on Friday, the Ventura County Star said.
Haydock school leaders investigated and initially sent an email to staff members saying the rumors were unfounded.
However, a school computer firewall had blocked access to sex sites.
Two teachers came forward later in the day to show administrators a link they had downloaded on their smartphones, the superintendent said.
"A school site administrator saw the video and said he believes the teacher is in the video," Chancer said. "I saw parts of the video. It's hardcore pornography."
The teacher was placed on leave during a meeting Monday. Chancer wouldn't say if the teacher acknowledged or denied it was her on the video. He also refused to give her age and other information because it's a personnel matter.