Redwood City teacher sexual harassment case: Teacher removed after new complaints

Agan's gone for the year. He's a middle school math teacher at Clifford School. But the Redwood City School District removed him after an investigation by KQED and ProPublica revealed a pattern of complaints dating back to 2019 and after at least two new complaints were filed by parents. The Redwood City teacher sexual harassment case highlights systemic failures in oversight.

A Troubled Path into the Classroom

State regulators didn't stop him. Agan's trouble started in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. After at least 11 students and one parent submitted written complaints that he massaged necks and shoulders and commented on clothing, he was fired in 2019 and deemed 'unfit to teach' by an independent panel. The Redwood City teacher sexual harassment case is the latest chapter in that record. But the Commission on Teacher Credentialing suspended his license for only seven days in 2021 after he'd already landed another job.

A First Dismissal for Sexual Harassment

He was unfit to teach. During his dismissal hearing, students testified the touching made them uncomfortable, but Agan denied any sexual motivation, claiming he placed hands on shoulders in support, and that finding didn't prevent him from keeping credentials. But a red flag icon appeared on his state database entry with no explanation of the sexual harassment findings visible to future employers.

A Second Job, a Second Complaint

After the suspension, Agan taught at Ephraim Williams College Prep, it's a charter school in Sacramento, where he drew another complaint of unwanted touching resulting in a written warning from the school’s human resources consultant. He left in June 2022. He started at Clifford School in Redwood City that August. The district’s deputy superintendent said they contact prior employers if asked not to, but they never asked credentialing agency for disciplinary findings, and by the investigation's release, the five-year window to request records had closed.

Key Dates in Agan’s Employment

• 2019: Fired from Fairfield-Suisun district for sexual harassment ; 11 students and one parent filed complaints.
• 2021: State suspends his teaching license for seven days, but does not revoke it.
• 2022: New complaint of unwanted touching at Ephraim Williams College Prep leads to a warning.
• August 2022: Hired by Redwood City School District without the district seeing the disciplinary findings.
• May 2025: Investigation published; Agan removed from the classroom after new complaints surface.

Parents Demand Answers and Pull Their Children

It's alarming. More than a dozen parents gathered at Clifford School on the morning after KQED and ProPublica's story was published because a teacher with a known history was in a classroom with their children. Hours later, the principal and superintendent emailed families to announce a substitute would take over Agan's classes. And a letter signed by more than 170 people demanded his immediate removal, a third-party investigation into hiring practices, and full transparency from the district.

“Children deserve learning environments where they are safe, respected, and protected. Parents and guardians deserve honesty and accountability from the institutions entrusted with their children’s care.”

Brie Hanni's signed the letter. And she pulled her seventh-grade daughter out of school the day the story broke. She said, "I broke down," and then added, "I think a statewide, if not nationwide, question is: What do you do with these teachers who are 'unfit to teach'?

But two new complaints emerged. After the article ran, one parent said his son recounted seeing Agan touch students’ shoulders and yell during class, and another filed a Title IX complaint against Agan saying the same pattern of behavior had persisted, and the district confirmed it’s investigating both.

A Licensing System That Kept Him Teaching

No request was made. California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing flagged Agan's license with a suspension and a red icon, yet the database shows no reason for the discipline, and unlike doctors, nurses, and lawyers, teachers don't have specifics posted publicly. But the agency can't release a summary unless a school asks within five years, and Redwood City never did, so the window expired early in 2025. The deputy superintendent said she learned only last year that the district could ask for those records at all.

The Redwood City teacher sexual harassment case is not an isolated failure. Agan is one of at least 67 educators whose licenses were not revoked after school districts concluded they sexually harassed students or committed other misconduct of a sexual nature, according to a review of records from 2019 through 2025 obtained by the news outlets. This gap lets teachers with histories of complaints move quietly from school to school.

What Happens Next

School board president David Weekly said parents “deserve to know their kids are safe” and pledged a review of the district’s hiring process. Superintendent John Baker has enlisted a third-party investigator to examine procedures. State Sen. Josh Becker, who represents Redwood City, wrote that the legislature “needs to dig into this.” Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent running for governor, said any teacher who “abuses or harasses students should never teach again” and promised legislation to automatically revoke licenses for sexual harassment findings. Xavier Becerra, another gubernatorial candidate, called for a system that acts swiftly and puts student safety first.

A substitute's in Agan's room. The Redwood City teacher sexual harassment scandal's already pushed lawmakers to confront a system that let a teacher with a record of complaints stay in the classroom until parents and journalists forced the issue. And for now the district's new investigations are underway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the Redwood City teacher sexual harassment case?

A teacher was removed from the classroom after new complaints of sexual harassment were filed against them.

Who filed the new complaints against the teacher?

The new complaints were filed by students, though specific details have not been publicly disclosed.

What actions did the school take after the complaints?

The school district immediately removed the teacher from the classroom pending an investigation.

Has the teacher been charged with a crime?

As of now, no criminal charges have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing.

What support is available for affected students?

The school has offered counseling and support services to students affected by the situation.