CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A teacher at Montgomery Central High School is being investigated for showing nude photos of himself to a 17-year-old girl in class.
Matthew Gay Vedder, 52, admitted to investigators that he showed the student the photos, but he said it was an accident. Vedder is the spouse of Jean Luna Vedder, the director of schools for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.
Clarksville Now has attempted to reach Matthew Vedder for comment.
Teacher says photos shown by accident
During class on March 9, Vedder, a science teacher, was showing the senior girl a photo on his phone, the girl’s father told Clarksville Now. Clarksville Now does not identify victims in such cases. While showing her the photo, Vedder then swiped to a photo of himself naked. He attempted to close the photo, revealing a gallery of additional similar photos of himself.
According to an audio recording of a conversation among the girl’s father, the family’s attorney and officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Vedder’s account matches the girl’s. He told MCSO investigators he was showing the girl multiple photos of a project he was working on at home when he swiped to a photo of himself naked. He tried to close it, revealing a two-row gallery of 6 to 10 additional photos of himself. Vedder admitted to MCSO investigators that the nude photos were of himself, but said he showed them by accident. The investigators said that both the teacher and student “described what sounds like an accident.”
Following the incident, Vedder deleted the photos, he told investigators.
Investigation ongoing by MCSO, DCS
The girl told her family about the incident, and they reported it to MCSO. MCSO and the Department of Children Services are investigating.
When the incident was reported, Vedder was immediately placed on “alternative worksite off school property,” according to CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson. “Per district protocols, CMCSS does not begin an internal investigation until all external investigations have concluded,” he said.
The MCSO officials said that to avoid any possible appearance of a conflict of interest, given Vedder’s connection to CMCSS leadership, they are requesting an investigation by a separate judicial district. When reached by Clarksville Now, Montgomery County District Attorney Robert Nash declined to comment.
Correction: The investigator said those involved “described what sounds like an accident.” He did not say whether the student believed it was an accident.
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