Julie Yang and Grace Rivera Oven Elected to Lead Montgomery County Board of Education

The Montgomery County Board of Education elected Julie Yang as president, and Grace Rivera Oven as vice president.

Julie Yang begins her first term as president of the Montgomery County Board of Education with Thursday's business meeting.

“Serving as President of the Board of Education is a great honor,” Ms. Yang stated. “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 in our schools of our students, staff, and families.”

Ensuring all students have access to the resources that support their academic success is Ms. Yang’s driving passion. This sense of purpose took root when an elementary school teacher offered Ms. Yang time and extra support before and after school. Ms. Yang credits this teacher with her pursuit of higher education and a career as an educator, rather than following the path to factory work she was expected to take.

Ms. Yang has served on the Board of Education since 2022 and represents District 3. Most recently, she has been Chair of the Committee on Special Populations and a member of the Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Committee, and the Fiscal Management Committee.

She also serves as the Board’s representative to the Maryland Association of Boards of Education’s Nominating Committee and its Awards Committee. Learn more about Ms. Yang on the Board of Education website.

Grace Rivera Oven, representing District 1, was elected vice president. Ms. Rivera Oven has served on the Board since 2022. Learn more about Ms. Rivera Oven on the Board of Education website.

Board leaders serve one-year terms, with elections held at the first meeting after member terms end on Nov. 30. The Board president chairs meetings, signs approved contracts and documents, represents the Board in communications, and performs other duties as needed. More details about the Board President’s role and responsibilities are available in the Montgomery County Board of Education Handbook.

Watch the election and hear Ms. Yang's and Board Members' remarks.