A middle-aged male school board member has been charged with assault after placing his arm around a teenage girl and telling her she was 'hot' during a public meeting. Keith Ervin, a board member of Washington County Schools in Tennessee, was charged with assault involving physical contact, according to court records obtained by local media.
Details of the incident
The 59-year-old faced the charge nearly seven weeks after an April 2 meeting where Ervin was filmed touching Hannah Campbell. He can be heard saying, 'God, you're hot, you know that? Damn. Where do you go to school at?' Uncomfortable laughter filled the room, and he later placed his hand on her back again. The meeting continued without further incident, but footage of Ervin's actions sparked backlash in the community and online.
Student's response
On May 7, Campbell returned before the Washington County Board of Education and read a scathing statement, calling the board 'cowards.' She said, 'Thank you for teaching me that no one will stand up for me, besides myself.' She blamed the rest of the board for failing to protect students and concluded by thanking them for 'showing this community what you think it means to protect our children.'
Board's actions
Ervin did not resign and was not fired. The Washington County Board of Education stated that elected officials cannot be terminated, but they censured him, an official public condemnation. The district released a statement acknowledging the charges: 'The Board of Education has been notified that formal charges of simple assault have been filed against Board Member Keith Ervin following an incident involving a student representative at the April 2, 2026, Board meeting.' The statement reiterated that Ervin's actions were 'shocking' and that he 'objectified and diminished a young woman.' It added, 'The Board reiterates that Mr. Ervin's actions do not reflect the standards, policies, or values of the school district.'
Ervin's defense
Ervin has defended himself, claiming his statement was misconstrued. He told NBC News, 'When I mentioned she was hot, I meant she was on a roll. It was nothing to do with her appearance.' Board Chair Annette Buchanan previously stated that while Ervin explained he meant nothing offensive, 'the rest of us have to judge his words and his actions,' which she called 'grossly inappropriate.'
According to the Johnson City Press, Ervin is due to appear in court in August.
