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Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of sexual violence and self harm that may be disturbing to some readers.
In January of last year, the Palo Alto Unified School District received an anonymous email from the husband of a former student, alleging that two decades earlier physical education teacher Peter Colombo had raped the then-sixth grader.
The allegation, which led to a police investigation and his arrest last June, was only the latest charge of criminal conduct by Colombo stretching back nearly 30 years. That list doesn’t include additional noncriminal complaints about his behavior that parents submitted to the school district.
District administrators knew of Colombo’s criminal history more than a decade ago and yet kept him in the district’s employ, according to documents obtained by the Palo Alto Weekly.
How could this have happened? That’s the question the Weekly set out to answer by filing Public Records Act requests, interviewing school district administrators, scrutinizing online personnel data and posing numerous questions to the state’s teacher credentialing commission. We also reached out to the student and her husband, as well as Colombo and his attorney, though none responded.
The picture that has emerged is one of numerous second chances given to a teacher and athletic coach who was well-known and, by some, well-regarded. Despite red flags and a checkered history, Colombo worked with Palo Alto students for nearly a quarter century. Colombo himself acknowledged in 2021 the grace administrators had extended to him a decade earlier, saying that they found him “likable” and appreciated the success he’d had with students in athletics.
Current Superintendent Don Austin said in an interview that no one who had decision-making power over Colombo’s employment at the time of his criminal convictions and credential suspension is still employed by the district, and he couldn’t speak for them. However, Austin said that if the same series of events happened today, he would not let the teacher keep their job.
“Selecting and retaining the people that work with your children is the most important job that we do in the school district,” Austin said. “There’s a point to where there’s enough of a pattern of behavior where some people should not have that right of working with students.”
When Palo Alto Unified received the rape allegation, district officials placed Colombo on administrative leave and reported the message to police, who conducted an investigation. Colombo was ultimately arrested in June and was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. He is currently out on bail awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for next month. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.
Legal troubles pre-date Colombo’s work in Palo Alto schools
Colombo’s professional troubles began before he was hired by Palo Alto Unified in 1998. He failed to disclose three prior criminal convictions on a 1995 substitute teaching credential application, an omission that triggered the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue a “public reproval” in 1997, which serves as a public warning of misconduct.
Those convictions included a 1988 misdemeanor trespassing charge after he went unannounced to the home of a woman he had met through his girlfriend and began honking the horn of his vehicle, according to the teacher credentialing commission’s summary of his criminal cases. When police arrived, he was found hiding in the bushes, the summary states.
Later that year, he was arrested for ripping a telephone off its cord outside a bar and grill and throwing it at a parked car during an argument with the person inside the vehicle. He pleaded no contest and was convicted of misdemeanor vandalism and misdemeanor disorderly conduct under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the summary of his criminal cases states.
In 1990, he was convicted after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of DUI and hit and run. The charges stemmed from a traffic accident after which he failed a field sobriety test, had a blood alcohol level of 0.236% and told police officers that he had a drinking problem, the summary states. The legal limit is 0.08%.
The state Commission on Teacher Credentialing issued the public warning in June 1997. The following year, Palo Alto Unified hired Colombo as a P.E. teacher at Jordan Middle School, now called Greene, and Palo Alto High School, district records show.
It’s unclear what the district would have known before hiring Colombo in the 1990s.
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 1998 provided an “all points bulletin” to superintendents that listed adverse actions the commission took against educators, a representative from the commission told the Weekly. Although the commission now offers an online tool to look up a teacher’s credential status, that wasn’t launched until 2001, after Colombo was hired in Palo Alto.
For employees being hired today, not all criminal convictions are automatically disqualifying, Austin said, including DUI convictions. Relevant factors in determining whether to employ someone with a DUI conviction include looking at any proactive measures the applicant has taken to address the issue, their explanation of what occurred and the district’s level of confidence that the issue is in the past, Austin said.
When it comes to someone withholding information on a job application about past convictions and credential-related disciplinary actions, Austin said that would stop the district from hiring the person.
“Yes, lying on your application would be a disqualification if you withheld information about discipline of any sort,” Austin said.
If the district knows that an applicant has been publicly reproved by the teacher credentialing commission for failing to disclose criminal convictions, Austin said, the district would not hire them.
While it isn’t known whether the district was aware of Colombo’s criminal history when it hired him in 1998, it turned out that he had not put his alcohol problems in his past. In December 2003, he was pulled over for traffic violations and exhibited signs of intoxication. His blood alcohol content measured at 0.19% and 0.17%, according to the summary of his criminal cases. The following month, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of misdemeanor DUI, court records show.
Despite the conviction, Colombo continued working and coaching. That spring, he led the Palo Alto High School baseball team to the Central Coast Section Division I championship game.
In October 2005, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing wrote Colombo to notify him that the Committee of Credentials had found probable cause to recommend the suspension of his teaching credential for 60 days. The basis for the suspension recommendation is not publicly known; an attachment explaining the basis of the decision wasn’t included among the documents that the commission released to the Weekly, and a commission representative stated that it was exempt from public disclosure.
Colombo appealed the 2005 suspension recommendation, requesting an administrative hearing, the commission confirmed.
After the administrative hearing, Colombo and the commission agreed on a Consent Determination and Order in February 2007, the commission representative told the Weekly. That agreement placed him on a four-year probationary period, citing his multiple convictions, including the 2004 DUI.
The conditions of probation included that Colombo couldn’t drink alcohol and would be subject to random alcohol tests. He also had to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, or a similar group if he got pre-approval from the Commission, at least once a week for the first two years of probation. Colombo was also required to follow all federal, state and local laws and submit a detailed written account of any arrests and citations, except minor traffic offenses, within 72 hours. The agreement took effect on March 17, 2007.
Jordan Middle School’s principal at the time and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Scott Bowers each signed forms acknowledging that Colombo had given them a copy of the agreement.
An administrator from the Redwood City Elementary School District also signed a form acknowledging he had received the agreement. Colombo had worked as a day-to-day substitute teacher in the district during the 2006-2007 school year, a Redwood City School District spokesperson told the Weekly.
On March 9, 2010, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing sent Colombo a letter notifying him that it had received credible evidence he had used alcohol during his probation. According to the terms of the 2007 agreement, if he used alcohol during probation, the Commission would immediately suspend his credential until it reviewed and took “final action” on the issue.
As a result, Palo Alto Unified placed Colombo on leave, his Palo Alto employment record shows. Bowers wrote the Commission on Teacher Credentialing a letter on April 6, 2010, urging it to reinstate Colombo’s credential.
“I would like the Commission to know that I believe that Mr. Colombo has made considerable effort and progress in dealing with his alcohol issues,” the letter states. “On a continued positive note, these issues have not impacted his work as a teacher in our District.”
The letter also notes that Colombo remained a tenured teacher in the district and was entitled to a full-time job when the suspension was lifted.
The Commission and Colombo subsequently agreed to modify the 2007 Consent Determination and Order so that his credential would be suspended from March 9, 2010, through April 28, 2010, and his probation would be extended by two more years, for a total of six years. He was also required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar group at least once a week for the rest of the probation period.
On April 29, 2010, Colombo’s employment record shows that he returned to his position at Jordan.
In April 2013, the Commission sent Colombo a letter notifying him that he had successfully complied with the probation requirements, and his credential was restored.
When asked why the district retained Colombo as a teacher and coach after this string of criminal and disciplinary problems, Austin said he did not know.
“There’s literally not a person that would have been involved in that decision that still works in our school district,” Austin said.
Bowers declined to answer questions for this article.
Multiple complaints as the 2021-2022 school year starts
School district records show that Colombo found himself in trouble again in the fall of 2021. Within the first month of the 2021-2022 school year, Greene Middle School parents lodged four complaints against Colombo for rudeness and inappropriate comments and behavior.
One parent reported that Colombo used the term “pimp” to refer to students and said that it didn’t appear to have been a one-time incident, emails released by the district show.
“I am really appalled by the standards you have for yourself with these kids,” the parent wrote. “You are supposed to be a role model when you are with them and instead you are introducing them to highly offensive language and you are glorifying misogyny and human trafficking.”
Colombo responded, telling the parent it wouldn’t happen again.
“I understand your feelings and my only recourse is to assure you this will not happen again,” Colombo wrote.
The parent then followed up with Greene Middle School Principal Sebastian Benavidez and said that Colombo had once again called the child, and others, a pimp.
“I demand that he is reprimanded and fired. He has no remorse, is not contrite, and lied to us,” the parent wrote in an email to Benavidez and an assistant principal.
Colombo explained his behavior to Benavidez, writing in an email that he intended “pimp” as a compliment, that it was a way of saying that the student was “hecka cool” and that he had used the term for years. At the same time, Colombo said that he needed to change with the times and that he had no excuses.
Benavidez, who had taken over as principal two months before, replied that he appreciated Colombo’s reflection.
“Just so you know, I’m not about consequences, I’m about learning and development, especially my own. I’m learning and growing every day and here to support you in doing the same,” said Benavidez, who had previously worked in the Fresno Unified School District from 2004 to 2021.
In a follow-up email to Benavidez, Colombo wrote that his “ego is out of control and I need to look at that.” He said that he had almost lost his job in 2010 because of drug and alcohol abuse, and that this was the first time in 11 years that he’d had ego-driven behavior problems.
“In all honesty I should have been fired back in 2010 but they gave me one more chance because they said I was likeable and had done lots of good things coaching too,” Colombo wrote.
Benavidez replied, “You’re a great person Pete. Your struggles have given you a deep understanding many others will never know. I’m proud of you for recovering from a challenging addiction and for being courageous enough to share your experience with me.”
Another parent complaint alleged that a physical education teacher was rude to their son on two different occasions. In one case, the child allegedly went to the P.E. teachers’ office to report that his lock was missing from his locker. Three teachers were in the middle of a conversation, so the student said that he waited for a break in the conversation.
One of the teachers turned to him and said “What do you want? Just go!,” the parent’s email stated. Although the report didn’t name the teacher, it described him as bald and not very tall. Benavidez apparently knew this referenced Colombo because he forwarded the email to him.
Another complaint that the district released, sent on Sept. 2, 2021, alleged that Colombo had made inappropriate comments to multiple students, including talking about his dating life before he was married and his divorce. What the writer described as the “most disturbing” incident was largely redacted but involved the phrase “dez nutts.”
“For him to talk about his genitalia, to (redacted) any child in a joking manner or not, is utterly irresponsible and outrageous,” the complaint states.
The email went on to say that Colombo told students “that he knows who files reports against him so don’t try it.”
On Sept. 3, Benavidez emailed Colombo a more formal message that began “Dear Mr. Colombo” and informed Colombo that Benavidez wanted to meet with him the following day to discuss multiple complaints that were received over the past week. Lisa Hickey, the district’s director of human resources for certificated employees, which encompasses teachers, was included on the message, and Benavidez said that she would be present for the meeting.
Following the meeting, Benavidez sent Colombo a formal warning letter, directing him to correct his behavior moving forward, which included always using appropriate language with students, not directly emailing parents who have concerns or complaints, and avoiding physical contact with students at all times.
While warning Colombo that his behavior must change, Benavidez also wrote that during their meeting it was clear Colombo had “taken responsibility and reflected” on the complaints.
Benavidez also said, “In speaking with you on multiple occasions, you appear to be a physical communicator.” The letter referenced a fourth complaint about Colombo that Benavidez had received: A student “complained about contact you made with them that made them feel uncomfortable.”
Benavidez told the Weekly that “the alleged contact happened during the daily routine of guiding students through an exercise/activity. Mr. Colombo redirected the student in (the) right direction by putting his open hand on the middle of their back.”
In response to the Weekly’s questions about Benavidez’s initially forgiving email exchanges with Colombo, followed by the warning letter, Benavidez stressed the broader context of his messages, including that he was responding to Colombo sharing information about his struggles with addiction. He also said that disciplinary action typically isn’t finalized until after a meeting with the staff member, which was when the warning letter was issued.
“Therefore, I did not switch course because my course of action had not yet been decided,” Benavidez wrote in an email.
How the rape allegation surfaced
Less than five months after issuing the warning letter to Colombo, the district received the rape allegation that led to Colombo’s arrest.
In an email to the school district, included in the police department’s investigative report, the student’s now-husband alleged that his wife had been raped by Colombo roughly 20 years ago, during the 2001-2002 school year, when she was 11 years old. After the assault, Colombo called her “saucy” and tormented her about the rape, the email said.
He told the district that he was sending the email not because he wanted to pursue legal recourse but because he has to live with the reality of his wife’s rape every day. He added that, most importantly, there could be other victims.
“I pray we are truly the only ones who have suffered from Pete’s actions and that he has not victimized any other children since then, though I know the odds are quite high that he has,” the husband wrote.
After receiving the email, the district’s then-General Counsel Komey Vishakan, whose employment with the district was terminated last summer, contacted the police department, forwarding a copy of the message. The district also placed Colombo on paid administrative leave.
Before the police had identified who the former student was or interviewed Colombo, he contacted them to report what he described as “cyberbullying.” Colombo said that he and his wife were sent an anonymous email, which police confirmed was similar to the one the district received.
Colombo told police that it could have been a case of mistaken identity because another teacher had been arrested for inappropriate behavior with a student. The police report states that Colombo brought up someone named Bill, but the last name is redacted from the report.
Bill Giordano was a fellow teacher and coach at Jordan Middle School who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2006 for child molestation that occurred from 1991 to 1994. Giordano began teaching in the district in 1978 and was teaching at Jordan from 1991 until his arrest in 2005.
Colombo also suggested the allegation could have been made by “a disgruntled former girlfriend or some other mentally unhealthy person,” according to the police report. He also said that he was dealing with alcohol addiction at the time and “may have been an alcoholic, and a womanizer,” but that he wasn’t a “child abuser.”
Once Colombo’s accuser was identified in 2022, she was at first hesitant to talk to police but ultimately agreed to be interviewed, according to the police report. She attributed her willingness to talk to “the fact that she had recently become a mother and wanted to reconcile her past trauma for both her and her family,” the police report states.
She confirmed to police that although her attacker had raped her from behind, she knew it had been Colombo.
She recounted that the assault occurred after class during the swim unit in the 2001-2002 school year. Colombo asked her to stay behind to help with the pool cover and by the time she returned to the locker room to get changed, it was almost or entirely empty, she told police.
Colombo then came up behind her, pushed her down on a bench and raped her, she said. The former student explained that when she recalls the assault, she has flashbacks to a mural above her locker that she was looking at during the rape. The mural honored a Jordan student who had died and depicted a child’s face among the clouds.
When the student got home that day, she told her mother that she wanted “to get Mr. Colombo fired” and that he was “too nice to me,” an account that her mother confirmed to investigators, according to the police report.
Prior to the assault, the student told police, she got good grades and was on a competitive swim team. Afterward, she said that she experienced major depression, began drinking and doing drugs. Her sister also told police that she used to be “bubbly and happy” but then began to self-harm and developed bulimia.
The student also tried to avoid Colombo and P.E. class, including in one case purposefully kicking a basketball post so hard that she bled, she said.
“She stated that everything changed after this incident and was the cause of self-medication and drug and alcohol use at a very young age,” the police report states.
Her mother told police that her daughter required psychiatric help. The family decided to move to try to improve things.
According to the police report, the investigating officer spoke to family members and friends in 2022 who confirmed that they had been told about the assault over the years. The older sister told police that when she was 14 years old, her younger sister told her that she had been raped by Colombo. The older sister also sent police a copy of a 2010 online chat with her now-husband, in which she wrote that Colombo had raped her sister in sixth grade.
Their father told police that his younger daughter had told him that she was raped by Colombo the year after the assault occurred. Their mother told police that she had learned about the assault from a family friend when her younger daughter was roughly 16 years old.
‘Selecting and retaining the people that work with your children is the most important job that we do in the school district. There’s a point to where there’s enough of a pattern of behavior where some people should not have that right of working with students.’
Don Austin, superintendent, Palo Alto Unified School District
One of the student’s friends told police that almost 16 years ago, the student told her that she’d been sexually assaulted by her P.E. teacher. When another teacher was arrested for sexual misconduct — identified in the report as Bill, with the last name redacted — the friend contacted the student, who was positive that had not been the person who had raped her, according to the police report.
The student and her older sister both told police that before the assault, Colombo behaved in ways that in retrospect were inappropriate. The older sister told police that Colombo always asked about her younger sister and made comments about her. She said that this attention was unique to her younger sister.
The younger sister also recalled that when Colombo once overheard that she had forgotten her lunch, he offered to take her to his house and make her food. When she refused, he offered to buy her pizza. She said that she was so uncomfortable that she responded “I don’t like food” and quickly walked away.
She also remembered that Colombo would walk through the girls locker room and yell, “Girls, a guy is coming through, close your eyes!” She said this stuck out to her as weird behavior because he was an adult man in a girls’ locker room telling students to close their eyes.
The police report includes one interview in defense of Colombo. A fellow physical education teacher told police that she would often be in the locker room at the time of day that the assault was described to have happened, so she believed it was unlikely to have occurred. She also said that in 21 years of working with Colombo, she had “never witnessed anything that alarmed her or seemed inappropriate,” and was only concerned “about his mouth,” noting that he would yell and use words like “honey” in a way that she said was innocent.
In an interview with police, Colombo reviewed a copy of the school yearbook and denied remembering either of the sisters.
After conducting interviews with nearly a dozen people connected to the case and reviewing documentation including a school yearbook, photos of the student before and after the alleged rape, and a 2004 poem the student had written, police ultimately arrested Colombo last June 15.
After initially being held without bail, a judge granted Colombo’s lawyers’ request for bail in June, over prosecutors’ objections. Colombo posted the $250,000 bond. His next scheduled court date is a preliminary hearing in March.
Austin told the Weekly that Colombo remains on unpaid administrative leave while the current court case proceeds.
Reflecting on Colombo’s past disciplinary and criminal problems, Austin said that a teacher with that record today wouldn’t be allowed to keep their job. As for why the district has not fired Colombo, Austin said that the decision on how to handle Colombo’s misconduct had been made by administrators many years ago.
“Those transgressions cannot be reevaluated again more than a decade later,” Austin said in an email. “The new, and unrelated, allegations are a different story. We expect the current allegation from long ago to be presented, heard, and judged in the court of law. Until that happens, unpaid leave is our only option.”
When asked if the school district conducted its own investigation after receiving the rape allegation, Austin said that the district offered its formal complaint process to the person who had submitted the allegation, but that it was declined. Because the complaint had been anonymous, Austin said in an email that “there was very little the district could investigate at that time.” Instead, he said that the Palo Alto Police Department conducted the investigation.
“Due to the serious and sensitive nature of an allegation from long ago, we followed the request of the Palo Alto Police Department to stand down and allow them to conduct an unobstructed investigation,” Austin said in an email.
A police department spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of Colombo’s case but confirmed that in general, “a criminal investigation takes precedence over an administrative (internal) investigation, so that the criminal investigator can have the first opportunity to gather evidence and perform interviews.”
Typically, investigators will let other entities know when the criminal investigation has reached a point where an administrative inquiry wouldn’t impact law enforcement’s ability to gather evidence and perform interviews, the police spokesperson said.
In general, initial criminal investigations by police are completed by the time the District Attorney’s Office charges the arrestee, at which point another organization’s administrative inquiry wouldn’t interfere with the police’s ability to gather evidence or perform interviews, the police spokesperson said.
As for whether the student who said that Colombo raped her was the only one to make such allegations, Austin said that the district issued a June 2022 press release announcing Colombo’s arrest and encouraging those with information to contact police. No one else alleging misconduct has come forward to the district, Austin said, though he added that he wouldn’t know if someone contacted law enforcement.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Kelly Meeker declined to comment on whether any other victims have been identified, beyond saying that only one victim is listed in the criminal complaint.
Colombo’s attorney did not return multiple requests for comment.
Once again, PAUSD has failed to appropriately address sexual harassment. The allegations at Greene in 2021-22 should have been investigated as Title IX complaints because they involved allegations of a hostile environment. The Board needs a new policy such that any time a teacher is alleged to have said or done anything even remotely sexual in nature (calling a student a “pimp” for example) it should be reported to the Board. Apparently, instead of sending the allegations to Title IX, Benavidez decided to attribute them to this alleged predator being a “physical communicator.” Don Austin should take a look at what happened during the time that he was in charge, and account for that, because Scott Bowers is evidently not the only person who screwed this up.
Scott Bowers!!! he gets to walk away, WOW
“Accused” So no one else has come forward ? Court dates keep getting extended? DA has nothing is what this article reads like. Since there is no real news, dig some up. Sad to see a persons life and family get slowly destroyed by just one false accusation. No wonder there is a teacher shortage.
Remember, a vital precept to our justice system is “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”. Mr. Colombo was charged on 6/14/22 and has since then sat at home awaiting his day in court. He has been clean for 11 years and is allowed to continue his role as a highly respected AA counselor. Unfortunately, Ms. Morgan goes to great lengths to document complaints against Mr. Colombo but put very little effort into finding the myriad of compliments and thank you cards he has received over the years. In addition, his personnel file is a lot cleaner than many other PAUSD staff members when it comes to complaints.
If a vigorous high five or male chest bump is tantamount to sexual abuse, then there is a long list of PAUSD administrators, teachers, staff, and coaches that are all suspect too. On any given day benevolent high fives, fist bumps, nudges, hugs, and hands on shoulders are administered by the aforementioned. Terms of endearment like “honey” and “sweetheart” are used frequently. Yes, pimp is not an appropriate term, but it is used by students as a compliment, and Mr. Colombo mistakenly fed on that and learned his lesson. As far as offers of food to students, it happens daily on campus. In 27 years, I’ve seen teachers, administrators, and staff offer food to hungry kids, and often students come begging for it. Heck, not long ago, before the PAUSD website was covered with construction images, there was an image of Don Austin seated on a couch with an elementary school child. Should he be investigated too?
Of course, the press is always looking for tantalizing tidbits to attract readers so digging up the Colombo case that has gone nowhere in nearly 8 months with no other accusers coming forward must have seemed a good idea. But the press is not a courtroom, nor is this forum. The accuser, her family, and Mr. Colombo all deserve justice. Let the facts speak before you jump to conclusions.
The rape of a sixth grader over two decades ago and all his other criminal activity, this man should’ve been sent to prison a long time ago. How he kept his job is beyond me. I hope he’s sentenced to prison for the rest of his life. Hopefully there aren’t other victims. Referring to a student as a “pimp” isn’t a “compliment” but it’s not as bad as everything else he’s done. He’s disgusting, and so is enabling him all these years. Enough is enough.
Kudos to the PA Weekly and Zoe Morgan for this investigative journalism.
I’m a child of PAUSD and a parent of PAUSD. Bill Giordano tried to groom me in junior high. He regularly asked me to chat after class, designed personal jokes with me, included me on special field trips to pick bands for school events. He successfully groomed many other girls, leaving them with PTSD that was only temporarily relieved by his arrest and conviction. Hawaiian shirts with white pants can bring up challenging memories for me…I can’t imagine how these shirts fall for the girls who didn’t get away. That said, Giordano wasn’t violent, he was stealth. Colombo raping an 11-year-old girl and blaming it on Giordano is another level of sociopath.
We learned a few months ago that the in house attorney for the district was fired suddenly and without cause. Is this investigation the reason? Was the school district trying to avoid responsibility and an investigation?
I have been sober 34 years and have never seen this jerk in a meeting, and he better hope I never do. Furthermore, even if he doesn’t drink, that has nothing to do with whether he is abusive. Sobriety is not a cure for sexual harassment or abuse and people should stop equating them. AA treats alcoholism, not rape.
This is just another example of higher-ups protect sexual abusers until the flood gates open up.
It shouldn’t matter what position a person has, whether it be a school administrator, a police officer, a district attorney, or even a judge. These people have an OBLIGATION to protect children in the community.
Sadly, I can attest that this doesn’t always happen. Some administrators just prefer to throw other people’s children under the bus rather than hold their colleagues and subordinates accountable.
It’s good that Colombo is now clean but that doesn’t negate the fact that he allegedly raped a schoolgirl. If guilty, that might be considered at his sentencing.
Unfortunately there’s no public evidence (yet) that he’s guilty. But the fact that the DA brought charges against him suggest they have some strong evidence. Many comments on this story here have already convicted him or exonerated him.
The real failing here is that PAUSD did not aggressively investigate each of these complaints when they arose. Even if Colombo is innocent, he should have been fired by PAUSD long ago for inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. He himself admitted this.
I think this story is well written and detailed but the graphics are a bit on the 1970’s creepy side.
@Michelle Dauber
There are multiple places to attend AA meetings and because “the jerk” you refer doesn’t attend your meeting doesn’t mean he’s not, in fact, he attends meetings daily in his home city.
You also sound like you’re making a threat which is violent behavior and to someone that hasn’t been convicted of molestation or rape.
So much anger, you may need to consider anger management meetings.
I fail to see why the lack of other reports of rape make the charge a “false accusation”. The CA statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases was lengthened to allow adult survivors who were unable to “tell” as children to come forward, but many still do not report assaults for many reasons. (Or maybe there is a “one free rape” understanding in this culture–you need multiple victims to prove he really did it?)
As for “he’s just kidding around”/”everybody does it”–no, “everybody *doesn’t.* Offering food to hungry students at school is one thing, inviting a single student home for pizza is quite another.
@RetiredPAUSDTeacher: Well said: “The press is not a courtroom, nor is this forum. Let the facts speak before you jump to conclusions.”
You’re “innocent until proven guilty” in a court of law. In the court of public opinion (which this is) you’re only “innocent” if you didn’t do it. I’ve read more than enough “facts” to form an opinion. As a child and parent of PAUSD, this makes me sick. Unless you’re a sworn juror, you’re entitled to an opinion. That’s what commenting here is all about.
I was really disturbed by the number of people claiming to be Palo Altans defending this guy. Then I remembered how many of you supported Mike Airo, Mr. G, and even Brock Turner. There is a segment of this community that believes rape myths and blames victims. Mostly affluent, mostly older, mostly lawyers, mostly Stanford affiliated. Mostly wrong. Mostly jerks.
I went to Jordan Middle School 2006-2009. It was an open secret that he messed with a sixth grade girl at that time, and that he has a criminal record. It confused everyone on how he managed to still have employment at Jordan, but he was liked well enough by the guys who took PE seriously. He also kept saying how he used to teach math and he had debates with students on history, such as WWII. He always rubbed me the wrong way, even after he returned from an administrative leave for a year.
The only shocking thing is that it took PAUSD this long to actually get an investigation on him and for charges to be pressed. The amount of people defending him is very disappointing.
My kids had Mr. G, and they had Mr. C. Not impressed by their demeanor with the kids, and after my two boys went through Jordan, and I had a daughter, it’s pretty sad that I had to tell her to look out for pervy PE coaches since PAUSD was doing nothing to discipline and fire them. And like Michelle Dauber, I am astounded by the parents who defend these guys and victim shame. The bro network sticks together and defends their own. I was amazed by how little time Mr. G spent in prison. Clearly, Mr. C needed help that he was not getting, but keeping him on the payroll and allowing further interactions with children is beyond the pale.
I am not defending either of these two former teachers so please do not take this as such.
However, if a mistake has been made and somebody, anybody, gets accused of sexual assault, even if later found innocent, their life is ruined. Particularly in the age of internet, there is always an old article or an opinion somewhere that can be found by a future employer or similar. I think it is time that we remember that innocent until proven guilty is the way the law works and a court of law decides that, not as mentioned above, the court of public opinion. It is bad when someone who is later acquited has their life destroyed in this way.
@Jennifer, in my “opinion”, the article is written in a way that implies the accused is guilty.
It’s not only PE teachers who are molesting students. I had a history/English teacher at my junior high school back in late 50’s or early 60’s who was doing it with a student (everyone knew about it) and he later went on to marry her after she finished high school so it validated our suspicions or outright knowledge. He had been carrying on with her for all those years and was married to boot.
It’s great that girls are feeling freer to report abuses but all too frequently it doesn’t result in the outcome it should.
After Mr. G’s sentencing, students in Paly’s student publication the Voice were still talking about how much they liked Mr. G. Some felt sorry for him for having
to do jail time.
I too am shocked at how many people are jumping in to defend this Colombo creep. The perp is just as capable of committing another rape whether he is
sober or intoxicated. One commenter even said that he thinks the fact that Colombo says he isn’t drinking any longer should be considered at his trial.
Like Ms Dauber, I am supremely disappointed at how many other creeps live in
my fair city.
@bystander: Colombo ruined his life when he got his first DUI. He’s been known among everyone at Jordan to be a troubling person. Just because he’s good at his job absolutely does not mean he gets to keep his job. I guess the past administration decided landing Paly’s baseball team into championships was more important than firing someone shady.
@JordanMom: the article does not imply anything. It merely states that Colombo has a rap sheet the length of a CVS receipt prior to being hired by PAUSD, and he’s continued being a rambunctious individual with too many people excusing his behavior. Ask anyone who’s attended Jordan in the 2000’s and they’ll confirm everything written in this article.
I’m also appalled by the number of Palo Altan’s defending him, probably parents. All I care about is the kids. If defendants were really “innocent until proven guilty” would they be allowed to be jailed, sometimes without bail? You’re innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, where the prosecution has the burden of proof. This isn’t a court of law.
Yikes! If true, this is a shocking failure of the PAUSD. The district certainly didn’t do its due diligence during the hiring process. If this was my child, I’d seek a maximum penalty AND THEN sue the district for as much in damages as can be levied. There is no money that can compensate that child.
Of course, if it’s found to not be true, then this man will still be guilty in the eyes of others. Either way, this is a reason why fewer men (and women) have opted to pursue a career in education. It’s already a difficult profession even before you weigh the dangers of being accused of a crime. Yes, this man could be guilty of what he’s been accused. However, even a completely innocent person is damaged forever by such an accusation.
Personally, I’d prefer to withhold an opinion of guilt until the legal system has done its best at fair and impartial jurisprudence.
@Michele Dauber have you ever seen the documentary called “13th Step -a film by Monica Richardson”? It can be seen in full for free at youtube here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iUd6qZRSi8 < No shortage of newcomers in AA who are often referred to as babies, newbies, pigeons, etc. All diminutive descriptors for people who are newly sober and extremely vulnerable. Low hanging fruit. I’m not surprised this guy is an AA cheerleader.
PS there are no “AA Counselors”. If you mean “SPONSOR”, Retired PAUSD Teacher, those are exactly some of the worst offenders who commit the 13th step on the regular.
One would hope that somewhere along the line in her 34 years of sobriety, Ms. Dauber would have come across the 11th Tradition of AA, which strongly encourages maintaining anonymity “at the level of press, radio, and film.” One of the main ideas there was to keep egos in check. Not that they’re in play here at all, really. (There’s also a notion floating around AA that people are capable of change, that people can forgive and be forgiven, and that people can be redeemed from the depths of unspeakable suffering. Not that these are in play here either. Nothing to see here, move along.)
The man has been tried and found guilty by the “court of public opinion” here on the PA Town Square. Surely the gallows should be raised in front of city hall? Hardly a fair trial, but it is what it is. A sad spectacle in an allegedly progressive, thoughtful community….
It’s Columbo who brought sobriety into public controversy not me. He’s the one who had had “all these years of supposed recovery,” and an apparently acquaintance here claimed he was an “AA Counselor” which is by the way not a thing. It’s Columbo who decided to bring recovery into this in a way that brought sobriety into public controversy and a negative light; I can only imagine young women who have been assaulted or abused reading this bulls— and thinking “If that’s sobriety I want nothing to do with it.” So thanks but no thanks save your lectures for the other bleeding Deacons on your soapbox. The ladies know exactly what I am saying.
If you’re a woman, and a mother, having observed Mr. C’s behavior, you would never want your daughter to be in a situation alone with him. His behavior was inappropriate on so many occasions, and he was always given a pass. He should’ve been fired.
Very complicated situation and account, but:
– I think my kids both had this teacher – thought was….semi-ok……
– I had one interaction (as an adult parent) with Giardano that appeared normal
– mention of not all criminal offenses are disqualifying for employment:
This brings to mind California’s charming efforts to prioritize criminal offenders over victims.
In some cities landlords cannot check/use criminal history of tenant applicants (I am horrified, I believe landlords’ attempts to have safe dwellings are now at risk, unaware female tenants are at risk)
AND employers under the Fair Chance Act are required to help applicants; a quick search shows SB-731 “was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom (in) 2022. The new law will automatically seal felony records for non-sex offender-related, non-violent offenses that meet (certain criteria)…(for convictions after January 1, 2005) The new law will expunge these records from public view and make them difficult for most employers to access during background checks.”
I believe female employees – naive to the clear risky workplace they may be in – are now especially placed at risk.
These things are complicated and schools MUST be especially careful to have a safe environment for students, teachers, staff.
New law(s) for elaborate rules, hiring procedures place burdens on police, school administrators/hiring officials (our politicians trying to help ex-felons with their employment and apartment searches) that will lead to omissions and mistakes.
I could care less about the ex-offenders: I DO care about the general public who are naive to the risk a nearby co-worker may pose, for example (under CA’s misguided priorities).
I hope to leave California as I oppose prioritizing criminals, felons, ex-offenders over children, women, vulnerable persons, whether at school, CA places of employment, or in rental housing. Ex-offenders may well re-offend.
Roger, I believe it was in the Retired PAUSD opinion that outed the accused as an “AA Counselor”. Which, if you read your big book, you will find there are no AA Counselors. It would be interesting to know how Retired PAUSD came to use that particular term for him. Any old drunk can be an AA member. But you have to be really special if you’re going to call yourself an “AA Counselor”? Unless he has a license as a drug and alcohol counselor, he’s misstating his position. And if he DOES have a license, AA would be filing a cease and desist order because, among the traditions, Tradition 6 states: “An AA Group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility, or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.” You can insert “An AA member” where it says “An AA group.”
Sadly, it’s women (probably mom’s) who are defending him. Why? I don’t know anything about AA, but sober or not, what does that have to do with abusing young girls? He says himself he should’ve been fired in 2010. If you don’t know a horse, look at its track record.
This article points out his criminal activity. If that makes him look guilty, whose fault is that?
As a woman and a mom, I DO know what Michele Dauber is saying. She’s an advocate, and a darn good one.
Jennifer, many people hide behind the mantle of AA membership to smooth the rough edges of a sketchy past. But it being an “anonymous” program, and they are promoting themselves toward a higher reputation than they actually have by citing AA membership, AA’s traditions say essentially ‘don’t use us as a human shield’. The funniest thing I ever saw was a Norm MacDonald stand-up bit about alcoholics. And now when I watch it, I put the accused’s face on it and it seems even funnier. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCxfIoD1MXg<
So now we are parsing sponsor over counselor. I own the wrong nomenclature. Sorry folks. That is all some weak people have: pin the “undereducated” on buzzwords because there is no substance to the “educated” argument. Great. Enjoy it and then wonder why your children can’t stand to live. At the end of the day, why do this to a man unless you have all the facts. Hyperbole is great. Facts are better, but none of that counts when you are a crusader, right Michelle?
Why is Benavidez still the principal at Greene? How can he be so naive? His first email sounds more like he wants to be Columbo’s buddy.
And, as always, Austin sits on his ass and says, “there’s nothing we can do”.
There have been far too many teachers at PAUSD that have given similar creepy vibes that have either been caught and/or fired or still lurk on campus. Almost always, the female students can tell you exactly who they are. Publicly called out have been Airo, Giordano, Farrell and I know I’m missing at least one. There are also those still on campus like Shelton at Paly and Rappaport who was “allowed to resign” for unwanted comments and behavior. Teachers and students all knew when Jackson Hall was raping students and within the past few years there were at least two students accused of multiple rapes that never became public.
It’s a top-down problem. Austin makes everything about him, so he tries to brush aside bad news instead of accepting responsibility. Sites are essentially encouraged to bury negative incidents. If they do, they are rewarded with promotions, just look at Kathie Laurence and the former Terman principal Pier Angeli La Place.
@Retired, he can file a slander suit if any lies have been published. But he admits so much himself, and convictions are public record, so nobody is shying away from the real matter at hand. There are enough AA “stars” out there and you can pore over the sites that have Speaker tapes that can be had for free. I’m sure he’s out there. That’s why I love the Richie K. story in Norm MacDonald’s standup bit about AA. People tell stories in AA that will curl your hair. Despite the 2nd A in the name of the group, people do talk outside of meetings about what they hear there, to others who are NOT members of the club. Meanwhile, there are 30 years of criminal records that CAN’T be obtained by the average citizen, to determine if those citizens want their kids to be taught by a career criminal.
I hate rape and I love Title 9. I have been a consistent vocal critic of the school district every single time — *countless* times — that the district fails to address sexual assault and rape culture. I do not trust Don Austin to do one thing right to protect young women and girls. And as to the Paly Principal, I’m still steaming from how he blamed victims for outing their harassers and assailants on instagram. It’s not the talking about assault that is the problem, Principal Kline. It is the actual assault that is the problem.
That said, I question this article’s research. I do not understand why the other PE teacher, who later was convicted for multiple assaults during that exact time period, was not considered for this rape as well. Given that most rape is done by repeat offenders (I think I learned that from Michele Dauber, amongst others), Giordano is the obvious #1 suspect. Did they interview him?
This is particularly troubling because in the email I read (PAO should publish the entire emails), the victim states that she was unsure who raped her–very different from what this article reports. In that email, the victim’s husband describes the rapist as her PE teacher and swim coach–both of which point to Giordano, not Colombo.
Yes, Colombo used inappropriate language. But the complaints were from parents of boys, who were not victims of sexism. Both my daughter and my son had Colombo for PE at Greene fka Jordan, and yes, the language sometimes was bad, but they always felt safe. Bad language does not correlate with rape, but a history of sexual assault, like Giordano’s, does.
As to Colombo’s criminal record, none of it involved violence, only drunkenness, and no crimes were committed at or near school. If we fired all recovered alcoholics, we would have far fewer teachers (and doctors, lawyers, etc). Recovered alcoholics can be exceptional at their jobs, even teaching.
Did PAO talk to Giordano? Did PAUSD? Did PAPD? He’s out of jail by now, sadly.
Thank you @ Rebecca Eisenberg for your thoughtful comments.
I’m not suggesting that Giordano is the suspect, however the victim never saw who the rapist was, but pointed her accusations to Mr Colombo.
It appears that the law professor @ Dauber is on a witch hunt and has tried and convicted Mr Colombo, without a trial. I am all for justice, but let’s wait for the real judicial system to work this out.
Yes, Mr Colombo had a past, who doesn’t? Everyone commenting, is a saint?
He is not PC, (I didn’t read anywhere that his language was sexual) he aligns with the kids and their language to be “cool” and to relate, not to abuse and violate, that might be his downfall. But let’s be honest, do you think your kids haven’t used or heard this language elsewhere? As a parent this is where discussion, as to what is acceptable in your family. Sure it’s ok to report, but it’s important that your student is educated and understands these things happen outside their bubble and how they’ll deal with words that are offensive to them.
Mr Colombo is passionate about his teaching/coaching. As the article states he redirected a male student, by putting his hand mid back. This is not sexual, Why is this a problem? Palo Alto parents get real, your kids are soft, if they aren’t exposed to some of this type of banter and language they will have a difficult transition into the real world. It’s definitely worth a conversation with your child, but let’s face it, Palo Alto is not the real world. Your children are sheltered need some real life.
And yes, I have adult children that went through Jordan and Paly and were instructed by Mr Colombo.
“What an order! I can’t go through with it.” Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints.” Some people stop right there because that sentence gives them a pass to allow them not to change anything except remove the alcohol. A drunken multiple offender, minus alcohol, is still a multiple offender. One thing is certain. In many cases where offenders blame their bad behavior on alcohol –(BOOZE MADE ME DO IT!) — judges are lenient in sentencing and will give the offender a pass if they will go to mandatory AA meetings. If an offender is already claiming to be an AA Counselor, the judge might be inclined to see him as nothing but an opportunistic parasite. This particular person being referenced in the article has a 30 year history of “bad behavior”, and if sobriety churns out people who are like that, I’m in agreement with Ms. Dauber. He sets a bad example. If AA’s traditions say that their “public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion”, any recovery advocacy on his part can be taken with a grain of salt. Unless this disclaimer is added: “Do as I say, not as I do”.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Columbo’s involvement with AA was introduced into this article. The door that was opened has afforded anopportunity for people with no real knowledge of how AA works (other than a video referenced on this forum and a comedian’s disgraceful strand up routine about alcoholism). The very unfortunate result of all of this side chatter about alcoholics and criticism of AA is that suffering alcoholics out there that may have been thinking of trying to get some help will decide that AA is not for them without even trying it out. By extension, that individual may die some day from this disease and cause untold havoc in their own lives as well as in the lives of those who love them. Alcoholism is a terminal disease that can be put in permanent remission by removing the substance from one’s life. Unfortunately, most people require a spiritual program and some kind of support in order to achieve long-term sobriety. Reading so many negative things about twelve step recovery programs in this forum may severely reduce the chances of recovery for many people. If there is only one person who misses a chance to get sober because of all the misinformation that has been offered in this forum it would be heartbreaking.
Please consider that this article in a not a forum on AA. It is about Mr. Columbo and his behavior. Thanks to those that stick to the subject.
@PA volunteer, I for one do not have a “past” of being accused of raping a child, or of being inappropriate with children. No, not everyone has “a past” of that nature. And I wholeheartedly agree with Spectator that his drinking or lack thereof is irrelevant to the current accusations. And I am quite certain that the victim knew exactly who assaulted her by the time Columbo was charged. The idea that this was mistaken identity is anti-survivor, and reminds me of Susan Collins who famously said that Christine Ford was probably raped by someone other than Kavanaugh and she just didn’t remember. I hope this survivor receives justice.
“One commenter even said that he thinks the fact that Colombo says he isn’t drinking any longer should be considered at his trial.”
@Spectator If you’re referring to my comment, that’s not what I said at all. I said it *might* be considered at his sentencing. That’s a statement of fact, not my intent. It’s standard practice during sentencing to consider the defendant’s current circumstances.
I’m not defending this guy at all. I’m just trying to stick the facts presented in the article. I would hope that any potential juror would keep that mindset. As @Bystander said, if someone is wrongly convicted, it will follow them forever and destroy their life.
We all know how the Court of Public Opinion works because we’re all part of it right now. But that doesn’t make it a good thing or even an acceptable thing. In my opinion, it’s the internet equivalent of mob lynching.
A white man in a union possibly losing his job or being held criminally accountable after receiving appropriate due process not lynching. Nor is discussion of it. That is offensive and insulting to black people who have actually been lynched to make that comparison.
You don’t see the “innocent until proven guilty” “court of public opinion” outrage when someone is facing burglary, etc. charges. Why the defense of an alleged child rapist? If someone is wrongfully accused of any crime it could ruin them, and that’s why certain news organizations withhold names, including this one. You’ll notice names are mentioned in this article for a reason. If you’re more concerned about him than the young girl, I hope and pray you don’t have any daughters. It’s human nature to have an opinion, and I find it “acceptable.”
Rather than debate and rebut and defend and judge, I’ll just say Colombo is many things and has flaws but HE IS MOST DEFINITELY not a rapist. It is really that simple and you will see soon that the DA messed up. Hope we don’t have two victims here. To the alleged victim, you need to be 100% certain and you are admittedly NOT!
Jennifer: I don’t think you were asking me, but FYI: I do become outraged when someone is unfairly accused of burglary, etc. See, e.g., https://rle.medium.com/admitting-lack-of-evidence-papd-blames-purse-theft-on-black-males-in-their-early-20s-cbc3732a8db4
“Yes, pimp is not an appropriate term, but it is used by students as a compliment, and Mr. Colombo mistakenly fed on that and learned his lesson.”
Is this appropriate in school? I don’t understand why people are defending inappropriate behavior. Let boys be boys is not acceptable. Coaches and teachers that boys are okay with and love that young women feel uncomfortable around MUST BE INVESTIGATED if a concrete allegation (rape, inappropriate touch, bad language) is made.
Why isn’t the District following through in investigations and reporting them? Why does the principle still have his job at Jordan?
Thank you Zoe Morgan for writing this piece. Without these kinds of articles, we would have no idea what goes on in the district and be able warn our children about it. I already talk thoroughly about body safety but will make sure I have conversations about all their teachers and coaches periodically.
This is a great reminder to parents. This happens in school and in activities. Let’s not forget the School of Rock guitar teacher that molested a child several years ago right in midtown. I am sure there are many more examples. Be vigilant with your kids!
Much of the back and forth above has to do with people’s different experiences of this person. Too many seem to assume that if their child had no issues, therefore the victim couldn’t have.
This is a non sequitur.
Sexual predators, gaslighters of all stripes and even emotional abusers who don’t use physical force, get away with it by insinuating themselves into a group and are prepared to come across as congenial compared to the victim. When the victim complains about what they were subjected to, the perpetrator inflicts yet more harm by blaming the victim or invalidating them; the perpetrator gets away with it because they are “liked” (as Colombo made a point of talking up in his letter).
I cannot speak to the facts of the case but I believe the victim, especially since she has no incentive to come forward, and there was so much corroboration from the time.
“Current Superintendent…said in an interview that no one who had decision-making power over Colombo’s employment at the time of his criminal convictions and credential suspension is still employed by the district, and he couldn’t speak for them. However, Austin said that if the same series of events happened today, he would not let the teacher keep their job.”
This is such a cop out. He’s basically saying, those people left the district (almost certainly to other nearby districts), so therefore I/PAUSD bears no responsibility and can’t do anything. What a crock. This is why our district is condemned to keep repeating its mistakes. Instead of reacting to a wrong by figuring out how to make it right, how to take responsibility, how to do the right thing for kids who have been harmed, our district culture is to sweep under the rug, cover up, push people out, avoid even dealing with the harmed kids or families. Then believe with all their shrunken shriveled hearts that if the situation came up again, THEN they’d do the right thing. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Silver Linings hit the nail on the head, “This is such a cop out. He’s basically saying, those people left the district (almost certainly to other nearby districts), so therefore I/PAUSD bears no responsibility and can’t do anything. What a crock. This is why our district is condemned to keep repeating its mistakes. Instead of reacting to a wrong by figuring out how to make it right, how to take responsibility, how to do the right thing for kids who have been harmed, our district culture is to sweep under the rug, cover up, push people out, avoid even dealing with the harmed kids or families. Then believe with all their shrunken shriveled hearts that if the situation came up again, THEN they’d do the right thing. Lather, rinse, repeat.”
Austin is too cowardly to take responsibility or make changes for the future that will benefit the students.
It’s amazing that the board can’t see through his act, or maybe they don’t care about students either.
there is a sense of betrayal here. you want to trust teachers/coaches and believe they represent the best of us.
Teachers/coaches use inappropriate language all the time. It’s usually the adult trying to connect with the student by using the same words they youths use among themselves. I can forgive foul language. Drug use is so common these days, a run in with the law can sometimes be seen as an outlier instead of a pattern of behavior. The desire to trust and believe is strong. Sexual assault, though is not in the same category as foul language and drug use. It is unacceptable in any context and requires zero tolerance. Victims need to be believed, investigations need to be made, and if found guilty, columbo needs to be punished.
A couple interesting sources of reference:
https://www.reddit.com/r/micheledauber/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHjU6FLl0CY
Spectator at large, I guess you only noticed the Norm MacDonald video (may he rest in peace) delivering irony by the plate-ful at that show. If you scroll through the comments many sober old-timers said it was hilarious if it’s taken in the right context and if you have a sense of humor. The other link I provided was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iUd6qZRSi8, a documentary that recounts numerous 13th stepper horror stories, when “newbies” or “pigeons” or “babies” a.k.a. newcomers are often 13 stepped before even knowing what it is. This usually happens when a young vulnerable person goes to a group and is latched on by a “Counselor” — no such thing, but there ARE sponsors. Nothing in the AA literature says you have to have a sponsor. Also, AA is not the only solution for sobriety. Many people can’t get past “How It Works” that starts off every meeting, saying “Remember that we deal with alcohol—cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power—that One is God. May you find Him now” — quite preachy, and not everyone can get behind that. The only thing I know about AA is take what you need, and leave the rest as you walk out the door. I hope that Mr. Columbo finds strength in his “program”. Every change, whether wanted or not, leads to a new opportunity.
@Jordan Student – well said!!! It’s sad, but the district likes to hide issues. It’s not only students getting hurt, but staff as well. I think former administrators should be prosecuted for allowing things like this to happen. It’s all about who knows who and who helped who.
This story is appalling in so many ways. I wish the people involved could be held accountable in some way, even if they are long gone from the district. While Scott Bowers was so graciously defending Pete Columbo, he was also responsible, (along with the the Terman principal at that time) of bringing down an entire staff by removing the beloved secretary there and lying about it to parents and staff. Yet, he was fine trying to get Pete Columbo reinstated…and it worked! I can only hope this comes back to haunt those involved. Stop defending this teacher and the others who enabled him and his behavior.
@RC it’s ironic there are 3 headlines pointing to this article on the front page of this website, but comments like yours get censored for naming names. It’s like they WANT everybody here to call out the system that brought a suspicious character into a position of authority with access to children, yet they don’t want anybody to really say how this could ever happen.
I believe the user Retired PAUSD Teacher is Mr. Colombo, his lawyer, or close friend. The user states direct knowledge of the gender of the student who was touched in 2021. While the article clearly states “they’re back.”
Retired PAUSD states on Feb 18, 2023 at 8:16 am: “As the article states he redirected a male student, by putting his hand mid back. This is not sexual, Why is this a problem?”
Adults on this thread, please act and step up to protect students from sexual predators.
Palo Alto has turned a blind eye to toxic male teacher behavior for too long.
The analogy used earlier in this thread of Mr. Colombo having a rap sheet as long as a CVS receipt is all too true. Colombo’s reputation is well known and it’s unfortunate it extends beyond his sexualized comments and inappropriate touching into sexual assault.
It only takes one rape to make a rapist. I hope this is the only case and there are not other victims. We are finally starting to see justice for victim’s of the early 2000s — too many cases but, justice for cases like Weinstein are increasing public attention.
Thank you Concerned Student. Weinstein is a perfect example of a person who could influence people’s future and the victims had no voice because they were faced with too much to lose by telling the truth. The alleged victim in this case took 20 years to gather the strength to do it. I can’t think of a single reason to allege something if it never happened, 20 years after the fact. The victim will still likely be grilled over this process even after so long. There’s no purpose to it except to try to make your generation safer than the victim’s generation was. It’s an act of generosity and hope for future generations.
Everybody should see the movie “Bombshell”, which is about how the FOX network’s style of sexual harassment became a way of life, until one reporter just couldn’t remain silent anymore.
How convenient for Superintendent Don Austin to say anyone related to hiring or keeping PE teacher Colombo is no longer at the PAUSD district. Ultimately doesn’t the buck stop with Don Austin? PAUSD was getting complaints nonstop about PAUSD PE teacher Columbo in 2021-2022. Multiple emails to the principal Benavidez (that Don Austin hired) and so really you have the Principal Benavidez and Superintendent Don Austin working at PAUSD and fully aware of the complains.
Ironic Don Austin passes the buck. Is he ever responsible for anything other than “being a leader” in education (which he constantly touts and pats himself on the back with)?
Also why did the district not notify PAUSD parents and try to keep news like this under cover?
Student suicides at PAUSD? PAUSD parents not notified.
Teacher investigated? PAUSD parents not notified.
Teacher death during pandemic? PAUSD parents not notified.
Teacher arrested for grooming investigation or rape allgegations? PAUSD parents not notified.
Don Austin likes to do things by omission. Everything is top secret, especially things that should come to light.
Instead of sending out an email to parents to ask if there are any other reportable instances regarding PE Teacher Pete Colombo, it’s all a secret. Hidden away.
@Palo Alto Res – You are exactly right. Most people don’t see it. Those that stay up on what comes out of PAUSD are well aware. I think it was one of the reasons Shana Segal ran for school board. She doesn’t trust him.
He always comes off publicly as though he cares about students and respects parents. Ask anyone who has brought an opposing opinion to him and you realize he only cares about his public perception. He will lie straight to your face. It’s amazing he’s lasted this long.
He will only bring up the positives, never accept blame for any of the negatives.
An incidental finding on zee interweebz reveals this: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/more/09141217-b.pdf It’s an agreement between the Office Of Civil Rights under HHS and PAUSD from 2017. Among the orders given to PAUSD is below:
“Tracking Reports and Complaints of Sexual Harassment
1. The District will develop an online system where students and parents can make anonymous reports of sexual harassment and sexual violence. To the extent possible based on anonymous reports, complaints will be processed consistent with Section A.2.e and A.2.f.”
And this: “OCR will monitor this resolution agreement for a minimum of three years.”
Sounds like any one of the affected students, faculty, parent, friend of a friend, etc can re-open the complaint by filing a new complaint referencing “OCR Case Nos. 09-13-5901 and 09-14-1217” We don’t know all of the facts, as usual. This is about more than what the DA can charge the accused with. It’s a violation of all people affected by PAUSD, and their civil rights under Title IX, and PAUSD’s failure to keep up with their mandated responsibilities per OCR. Just because the case expired doesn’t mean PAUSD could get back to “business as usual”.