Insight on the Newly Elected and Re-Elected Board Members in MCPS
Recent elections brought new leadership and fresh perspectives to the Montgomery County Board of Education. Newly elected members include Laura Stewart, who represents District 4, and Rita Montoya, who won the at-large seat left by Lynne Harris. Julie Yang is president of the board, while Grace Rivera-Oven serves as vice president. This mix of members who have experience working for the Board of Education already and others who are new will bring fresh and different perspectives to the table that will ensure the needs of all students in MCPS are met.
Montgomery County recently held elections for the Board of Education, bringing new leadership and fresh perspectives to the table. Among the newly elected members are Julie Yang, who now represents District 3, and Grace Rivera-Oven, who represents District 1. Both are poised to make an impact in addressing countywide issues and student concerns.
Julie Yang was elected as the new president of the board. A strong advocate for student achievement, Yang is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. Yang also represents the board on the Maryland Association of Boards of Education’s Nominating Committee and its Awards Committee. Yang expressed her excitement about her new role, stating: “Serving as President of the Board of Education is a great honor. The Board understands the bread-and-butter concerns of education are the ones that truly matter to our families. We will always focus on the everyday experience of our students, staff, and families in our schools.’ ” Her leadership style, centered on educational equity, promises to be an asset in shaping the direction of the school district.
Grace Rivera-Oven, elected as the board’s vice president, is widely known for her work in food security and community inclusion. Rivera-Oven previously owned a public relations business and is the founder and CEO of the Up-county Hub for food insecurity and social services. She is also a past chair of the Latino Health Initiative Strathmore, Interfaith Works. Her passion for creating positive change in students’ and families’ lives will no doubt extend across all aspects of her role on the board, particularly in ensuring every student has access to the resources they need to succeed.
The other newly elected board members include Laura Stewart, representing District 4, and Rita Montoya, who won the at-large seat previously held by Lynne Harris. The recent win of Montoya is a turning point considering Harris was a fellow board member respected by many students and families she worked with, for a very long time.
Natalie Zimmerman, an experienced MCPS teacher, plans to advocate for educators and students when on the board. Due to the trust deficit in MCPS, she plans to make the budget more transparent to the public and open up meetings for participation from the community. Zimmerman strives to focus on funding new projects with evidence-based practices instead of trying to maintain the status quo. She is focused on improving student outcomes and increasing their readiness for the workforce. Zimmerman also wants to increase MCPS’s staff training and educate diversity and inclusivity in the curriculums to decrease hate and bias. She believes in celebrating diverse cultures and characters so all are educated and informed.
The newly elected board members have expressed a strong commitment to expanding educational opportunities, enhancing student achievement, and equitable access throughout the county. They also seem to be excited about sustaining the effort made by the previous board members to improve the quality of education in MCPS schools. With their unique qualifications, experience, and training, Yang, Rivera-Oven, Stewart, and Montoya are ready to provide new vision and creative solutions to the process. Their dedication as well as budgeting promises great changes to the school system. These board members seek to address the wider ideas involving students, parents, and different educators in seeking better for all the students in Montgomery County.
Written by Maria Caballero and Dillan Mogot (MCR-SGA Press Deputies)
Published by the MCR-SGA Communications Department
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