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Modesto Teacher Quits Job To Be With 18-Year-Old Student

MODESTO (CBS / AP) -- A Central Valley school teacher has quit his job and left his wife and kids to move into an apartment with an 18-year-old student less than half his age.

The Modesto Bee said the teen's mother has waged a Facebook campaign since her daughter moved out of the family's home last week and into a Modesto apartment with 41-year-old James Hooker.

Hooker quit his teaching job at Enochs High School last week and left his wife and children, one of them an Enochs student, to live with Enochs senior Jordan Powers.

Modesto police are investigating whether there was inappropriate contact before the girl turned 18 last fall.

Hooker acknowledges the couple hurt a lot of people, but said they decided to follow their hearts.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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