Updated with reaction from School Board members.

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery Central High School teacher who showed nude photos of himself to a 17-year-old student has resigned.

Science teacher Matthew Gay Vedder, also the spouse of Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Jean Luna-Vedder, resigned Thursday, April 9, schools spokesman Anthony Johnson confirmed to Clarksville Now on Saturday.

Incident under criminal investigation

On March 9, Matt Vedder, 52, showed the student the photos during class, according to previous reports. Vedder admitted to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigators that the photos were of him, and that he showed them to the girl, but said it was an accident. The student and her family insist that it was intentional.

The incident remains under criminal investigation, and the District Attorney’s Office requested that the case be handled by an outside judicial district.

When the incident was reported, Vedder was immediately placed on alternative worksite off school property, which typically means working from home, with pay, pending the outcome of any investigation. CMCSS has had to hold off on its investigation, and any disciplinary action, during the criminal investigation.

Clarksville Now has previously reached out to Matt Vedder for comment.

Resignation avoids due process for termination

In a statement Saturday, Johnson said Vedder’s resignation ends his due process rights under state law. “By resigning, he waives any rights to due process from CMCSS, which is afforded to all tenured teachers by state law,” Johnson said.

He added that CMCSS has not been updated on the status of the criminal investigation.

“Since there are ongoing external investigations, CMCSS has no information regarding the investigations, and I cannot speculate the outcome,” he said. “However, based on what was officially reported to CMCSS by law enforcement on March 9, even an accidental display of inappropriate content could have resulted in disciplinary action up to and including charges of dismissal for conduct unbecoming.”

Johnson said CMCSS has already submitted the initial report on Vedder to the State Board of Education and will submit the final report once the investigations conclude.

School Board members freed to speak out

The resignation also frees School Board members to speak freely about the incident.

“It is a relief for him to resign but will not change the investigation moving forward,” School Board Chairman Chris Lanier said Saturday.

He said the Tennessee State Board of Education will look into the matter and determine its impact on Vedder’s teaching license. “He would’ve not returned to employment with CMCSS no matter (the) outcome,” Lanier said. “As for the family involved, I am sorry any of this ever happened.”

As Clarksville Now previously reported, School Board members have had to remain silent about the case because anything they said could have had legal consequences during any termination of Vedder.

Board member and state Rep Aron Maberry also weighed in. “What occurred was inexcusable, shocking, repulsive, and may ultimately be deemed criminal. I can speak for myself only officially, but I will say with confidence that every member of our school board was outraged by his actions.”

“CMCSS will be reporting this to the State Board of Education,” Maberry said. “Based on what we know, he will not work with children in a school setting again.”

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Maberry also addressed criticisms some have made of Schools Director Jean Luna-Vedder.

“I will not join those attempting to attack her,” he said. “She did not learn of this incident until the day law enforcement arrived at her home, and she immediately reported it to DCS upon discovering it. I have personally sat with her, asked difficult questions, and it is clear to me she is a victim in this situation as well.”

As for the ongoing criminal investigation, Maberry said it’s going to take time.

“This matter is being handled appropriately and transparently by independent bodies. Law enforcement and DCS are conducting thorough investigations, and those take time. They are not bound by public pressure or social media timelines – they are bound by the law and the need to get it right,” Maberry said. “The investigations will continue, and the facts will lead where they lead. Please allow the process to work.”

Jazmin Logan contributed to this report.

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