A middle school teacher in Northern California has been placed on administrative leave after a video surfaced allegedly showing him urinating into a container inside his classroom shortly before students entered.
The incident reportedly occurred at Granite Oaks Middle School in the Rocklin Unified School District, located about 25 miles northeast of Sacramento. The video, obtained by the Sacramento Bee, shows the eighth-grade history teacher standing near his desk and unbuttoning his pants before urinating into a container that is partially out of frame.
After finishing, the teacher can reportedly be heard expressing relief before buttoning his clothing and tucking in his shirt. The footage then shows him walking across the classroom holding the container and appearing to pour out the liquid.
Moments later, the school bell rings and students can be heard entering the room. The video ends shortly after the class begins to arrive.
School officials said the teacher was immediately placed on leave after administrators were alerted to the video.
According to the Sacramento Bee, the teacher was identified as Dan Champ, who has taught in the district for more than 25 years and also serves as a student body adviser at the school.
Administrators learned about the video after a parent brought it to the school’s attention. An email sent to parents explained that district officials are investigating the situation.
“This afternoon, after school dismissal, a parent and a staff member informed the school administration of a video showing an employee engaging in conduct inconsistent with our professional standards,” the message said.
While the video does not appear to involve any students directly, the teacher has been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation by both Granite Oaks Middle School and the Rocklin Unified School District.
The circumstances surrounding the recording remain unclear. According to the Bee, the video appears to have been secretly recorded by a student.
One eighth-grade student previously enrolled in the teacher’s class told the newspaper she had heard rumors earlier in the school year suggesting that the teacher sometimes used a container between classes.
The student said seeing the video made her uncomfortable, noting that she had previously sat near the location where the incident allegedly occurred.
“I personally feel disgusted knowing that I was in the room prior to him doing that near the spot where I used to sit,” the student told the newspaper.
The video reportedly circulated among students on social media before eventually reaching parents and school administrators.
News of the incident has sparked debate among students and parents in the community. Some have questioned whether teachers are given adequate time between classes to access restrooms.
Despite the controversy, Champ has long been viewed as a prominent educator in the school community.
In addition to teaching history, he operates an educational travel program called Champ Tours with his wife. The program organizes trips for students to historical sites around the United States, including planned visits to East Coast landmarks and New York City.
Champ has not publicly commented on the allegations.
School officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
