First reported by WTVC-TV
An investigation by WTVC-TV in Chattanooga has uncovered that Walker County School’s knew about a Ridgeland teacher’s suspension from Hamilton County Schools before they hired him. An open records request reveals that Walker County had a suspension letter on file for Nathan Dawson dating back to early August. That letter came from Hamilton County Schools and detailed Dawson’s alleged misconduct, including dishonesty during an internal investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a former student at Central High School. Late last month, WTVC first reported on a notarized statement from that former student, who claims she was the victim of an inappropriate relationship with Dawson while he taught at Chattanooga Central. Hamilton County chose not to renew Dawson’s contract as a result of those allegations. Despite that, Dawson was later hired by Walker County Schools. In his job application, Dawson stated he left Hamilton County because his “position was dissolved.” But documents show otherwise. Also in Dawson’s personnel file: a past reprimand from his time in Whitfield County, where he was cited for exchanging over 60 text messages with a student in just one hour. The Walker County School District has not commented on Dawson’s current employment status.