SAN JOSE — A former physical education teacher and track coach at Willow Glen Middle School has been arrested after allegedly taking exploitative photos of school girls and possessing child pornography, according to San Jose police.

The teacher, Clifford Pappadakis, 47, of San Jose, surrendered to police Wednesday. He made his first court appearance Thursday to answer to charges of one count of felony child porn possession and seven misdemeanor counts of annoying and molesting a child.

He was released under court supervision and a protective order was issued, barring him from contacting any alleged victims.

Pappadakis is next scheduled to appear in court March 21 to enter a plea.

San Jose police were alerted to Pappadakis in September after parents noticed the teacher taking what they considered suspicious photographs of the girls and reported him to school staff, who then contacted police. Pappadakis was immediately placed on administrative leave while the district and police conducted an investigation. He was “formally dismissed” Dec. 31, according to the San Jose Unified School District.

The San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children and Child Exploitation Task Force obtained warrants to search his home and computer, and numerous electronic devices were seized and examined, police said.

“Forensic investigators located numerous inappropriate images in Pappadakis’ possession,” reads a police statement released Thursday. Detectives submitted their findings to the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office in December and earlier this month an arrest warrant was issued.

Anyone with information about the case can contact Sgt. Brian Spears or Detective Mike O’Grady at 408-537-1397 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP or at svcrimestoppers.org.

Staff writer Mark Gomez contributed to this report.