Valerie Ervin, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education, has been named Educator of the Year by the African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., (AACC) of Montgomery County. The award was presented by AACC President and CEO, Janice M. Freeman, at the organization's tenth annual awards banquet held on October 19 at the North Bethesda Marriott Conference Center.

Ms. Ervin was recognized for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to the community and to education. She was elected to the Board of Education in 2004 and serves as a member of the Board's Policy Committee and Research and Evaluation Committee. She is former co-president of the Montgomery Blair High School PTSA, and has two sons who are Blair graduates.

In addition, Ms. Ervin has served as a NAACP Parents' Council representative and is a founding member of Blacks United for Excellence in Education and the Montgomery County Education Forum. She 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 as Chief of Staff to County Council Vice President George Leventhal.