The Washington County Board of Education in Tennessee has voted to formally censure member Keith Ervin following an incident that has triggered widespread local condemnation. The disciplinary action was finalized during an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, April 8, in response to comments Ervin made to a female high school student during a public session earlier this month.
Video footage from an April 2 board meeting captured Ervin placing his arm around a teenage student liaison and stating, “God, you’re hot.” The exchange, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Ervin asking the student where she attended school immediately after her presentation on restructuring initiatives.
In a prepared statement read during the emergency meeting, Ervin apologized for his remarks but maintained that his intentions were misunderstood. He claimed that he used the word “hot” to indicate the student was “on a roll” and asking “good, smart questions.” Ervin described himself as an “old farm boy” who was simply impressed by the student’s intellectual performance.
Board Chairperson Annette Buchanan joined other members in denouncing the behavior as grossly inappropriate. While a censure serves as a formal public reprimand and an official condemnation of conduct, it does not legally remove Ervin from his elected position or strip him of his voting power on the board.
Public records indicate this is the second censure of Ervin’s career. He was previously disciplined in 2009 following reports of a lewd gesture made in a classroom, an incident that led to a requirement that he be escorted by a supervisor when visiting school campuses.
Community outrage remains high, with a petition calling for Ervin’s immediate resignation gathering thousands of signatures. Parents and residents attending the emergency session argued that the censure was an insufficient response to the pattern of behavior. Despite the mounting pressure and calls from fellow board members to step down, Ervin has not indicated any intent to resign his seat.
The Washington County Board of Education has stated it remains committed to maintaining ethical standards, though officials noted their legal authority to remove a sitting member is strictly limited under state law.