Suspended teacher's husband, Tom Heermann, running for school board.

Tom Heermann, the husband of suspended 27-year veteran English teacher Connie Heermann, has announced his candidacy for Center Grove Community School Board. Board elections will be held with the Presidential elections, November 4.

Heermann's wife Connie Heermann was sentenced by the neighboring Perry Township School Board last March to an 18-month suspension without pay for using the New York Times bestselling book, "The Freedom Writers Diary," in her classroom. Ms. Heermann's plight garnered world-wide press attention, including Newsweek, CNN, The Huffington Post, and The Guardian. Mrs. Heermann now teaches english as an adjunct facilty member at Ivy Tech Community College in downtown Indianapolis.

Husband Tom Heermann decided just two days before the Center Grove School Board deadline to run. "I saw a little news blub in the Star. I approached Connie and said, 'you ought to run for school board'. She answered 'maybe you should Tom'. So that was it: I went down to the courthouse and signed the paperwork."

Heermann feels his wife's negative experience with the Perry Township School Board provided an unusual perspective as to the power of school boards. "In Indiana they hold great power. Used effectively Boards can positively affect the district and students. The absolute key to superior education is to firmly support our great teachers," said Heermann. "Like my wife Connie, many teachers are unable to teach effectively because of needless obstacles placed before them -- or fearing for their jobs. I am dedicated to changing that," added Heermann.