Jonathan M Fey is the principal of Amador Valley High School, who was recently accused of using the Grindr app to hook up with students, find out more below
The incident seemingly started as a quiet administrative leave and has now blown into a full-on public controversy involving inappropriate online conduct and a hefty settlement.
Who is Jonathan M Fey, Amador Valley High School Principal who used Grindr to hook up with his students
The case has raised all kinds of concerns about ethics in education, online behavior, and accountability within school leadership.
Jonathan M. Fey accused of using Grindr
Jonathan M Fey is a 54-year-old former principal of Amador Valley High School in Alameda County who was recently accused of using the dating app Grindr to pursue s*xual conversations with a current and a former student. Investigators managed to identify an account under the name “eyes emoji” that allegedly belonged to Fey. Several messages linked to this account showed discussions suggesting a “secret romantic and sexual relationship.”
Notably, a former student claimed that after interacting with the “eyes emoji,” Fey started following him on Instagram the next day, raising suspicions. Meanwhile, another student reported a similar contact and stated that Fey called him “hella hot.” In response, Fey has denied all accusations and claimed identity theft, insisting that someone has impersonated his Grindr account.
Charges and allegations
Following the accusations, the Pleasanton Unified School District carried out an investigation and concluded that there was enough evidence to take disciplinary action. As a result, Jonathan M. Fey was placed on leave in 2024, and he received a formal termination earlier this year in February 2025. Fey has reportedly accepted to pay a $254,000 settlement, instead of facing a public hearing, with the settlement including legal fees and back pay.
Reactions from netizens
The case has drawn intense reactions online, with many social media users expressing their disbelief and outrage.
One online user wrote:
If these allegations are true, he should never step foot in a school again.”
Another user added:
The system keeps protecting people like this instead of the students.”
A third user commented:
254K settlement? That’s taxpayer money paying for silence.”
Another user stated:
It’s scary knowing people in power can hide behind PR firms and lawyers.”
Jonathan M. Fey biography and age
Jonathan M. Fey was born in the early 1970s and is currently 54 years old. Before his tenure at Amador Valley High, he worked in the Fremont Union High School District and the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. He was known for his polished leadership style and experience in education and had seemingly built a reputation as a strong administrator before the scandal surfaced.
Career
Jonathan M. Fey has had a successful career in education until the recent scandal. He has previously worked in various teaching and administrative roles, as well as at the district level. He joined his most recent job as Principal at the Amador Valley High School back in 2022. However, Jonathan’s recent allegations have overshadowed all his professional achievements and severely damaged his reputation. Following the incident, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is now expected to review the case and potentially put an end to Fey’s long career in education.