During his tenure in Hamilton County public schools, David Testerman extinguished a chemical fire in a science lab and wrestled a gun away from a school intruder.
He’s got 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in Hamilton County Schools, which he says is his “No. 1 selling point” as a candidate for the District 8 Hamilton County Board of Education seat.
“I have real-world experience. I know what it’s like to get up at 5:30 a.m. and meet kids coming off the bus,” Mr. Testerman said. “I’ve dealt with kids who have no lunches, parent issues, teacher issues.”
Much like outgoing board Chairman Kenny Smith, whose East Ridge seat Mr. Testerman is seeking, the 59-year-old candidate is a champion of career and technical education.
He taught academics to vocational ed students when he started in Hamilton County in 1977, and he would like to see the district build a stand-alone career and technical high school, similar to Kirkman Technical High School, which closed in 1991.