Union City teacher charged with felonies

A teacher at James Logan High School in Union City has been charged with oral copulation of a person under the age of 18 and unlawful sexual intercourse for an alleged relationship with a student, prosecutors said today.

Joe Rey Valle, 49, who was arrested on Friday evening, was arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court on Tuesday and is free on bail, according to district attorney’s office spokeswoman Teresa Drenick.

New Haven Unified School District officials said they notified Union City police on Friday after they became aware of the alleged physical relationship. Valle was put on administrative leave by the district on Monday, district officials said.

The charging documents state that the allegedly unlawful sexual activity occurred between April 1 and Nov. 29. School district officials said Valle has taught social studies and ethnic studies at Union City schools for 20 years. According to Valle’s LinkedIn profile, he founded James Logan’s ethnic studies department in 2002.

In his profile, Valle said he is:

“Passionate about helping others and organizing the next project to help the community and education in general.”

Valle said in his profile that he previously was a teacher in Santa Rosa public schools from October 1990 through July 1993 and coached the varsity high school wrestling team to a 44-2 record and was named the Redwood Empire Wrestling and Coaches Association coach of the year in 1993.

Valle said he graduated from University of California at Davis in 1987 with a degree in education and Native American studies and was on the wrestling team for four years. Valle said he currently is the girl’s volleyball coordinator for students in grades four through eight at St. Anne’s Parish in Union City and has held that post since 1993.

Union City police Lt. Matias Pardo said the school district notified parents at James Logan about the case and that police are encouraging anyone with information to contact Officer Rob Young at (510) 471-1365.