About Valerie Ervin

Valerie is a 20-year resident of Silver Spring, Maryland. In 2004, Valerie Ervin waged a strong, progressive campaign to become only the second African American female member of the Montgomery County Board of Education, following in the footsteps of her predecessor more than two decades earlier. She was elected to the Board of Education in 2004 and chairs the Board's Research and Evaluation Committee.

Ms. Ervin has been an active advocate for public education in Montgomery County. She is a former PTSA Co-president of the Montgomery County Blair High School PTSA, an NAACP Parents' Council representative, and a founding member of Blacks United for Excellence in Education and the Montgomery County Education Forum. In addition, Ms. Ervin has been a member of the Superintendent's Committee on Gifted and Talented Education and the Collaboration Council for Children, Youth, and Families. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation F.A.C.E.S. of Montgomery Advisory Board, a philanthropic organization that awards grants to local nonprofits.

Professionally, her work as an adult educator and administrator at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, and most recently, as Chief of Staff for Councilmember George Leventhal, has taught her how to work within the County's political structure and how to turn good ideas into sound public policy.

Valerie Ervin has a BA in Labor Studies from the National Labor College and an MPA from the University of Baltimore. She has two sons who attended Montgomery Blair High School, and she was born on Andersen Air Force Base on Guam in Feb. 16, 1957.

"...as a member of the County Council, I will continue to tackle such issues as affordable housing; sensible transportation; safe and walkable neighborhoods; essential public services; access to quality health care; and a quality education for all of the county's children."

Valerie Ervin

"Valerie is rightly acclaimed as a mother, a school leader, a community activist, a fighter, a good friend. She has proven herself to be dedicated and indomitable. But nowhere is she known as an ambitious political careerist. That's because she is of the people and for the people. She is one of us. And what more important vote could you cast than to put one of us on the County Council!"

Howard Kohn, soccer coach & author

"Valerie is a fearless, independent voice; she asks the questions that others are often afraid to whisper. During her tenure on the School Board she has demonstrated a willingness to take on the special interests and entrenched power brokers, not for its own sake, but to assure that services are provided to those who are often disenfranchised. Valerie's mantra is inclusion; she acts on the principle of equal opportunity for all. Her broad base of support, from unions to the business community, from students to seniors, and from people of all ethnic backgrounds is evidence that she offers the type of leadership needed by the people of District 5."

Sally Sternbach