At the January 12, 2026, meeting of the Tazewell County School Board, board member David Woodard nominated Erik Robinson to serve as the school board chair for the 2026 school year. The motion was seconded by board member Irene Mullins. Next, board member David Woodard made a motion that nominations be closed and that Mr. Robinson be elected by acclamation, and the board unanimously approved 4-0.
Robinson is currently serving his seventh year on the Tazewell County School Board. A graduate of Ferrum College, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in English. Ferrum College even named him Alumni of the Year. Additionally, he serves on the board of trustees for the Carlock-Pruett Athletic Foundation, which was established to provide financial support for all athletic programs at Graham High School in Bluefield, Virginia. Many may recognize his name (or voice) because he announces the Graham G–Men football games. In addition to serving on the Tazewell County School Board, Robinson is a member of Bland County’s Community Policy and Management Team. He also serves as a board member for Wythe County’s Family Assessment and Planning Teams. Robinson is a former president of both the Bluefield Virginia Rotary Club and Bluefield Business Professionals. During his tenure on the school board, he has served as a delegate for the Virginia School Board Association. Robinson is employed by Health Connect America as their State Director of Admissions
Robinson said, “I am honored to know that my fellow Board members have the confidence in me to choose me as their Chair for 2026. As with each year, we face obstacles in order to provide the highest level of education to our students and support to our staff, but with the experience and unified support of such a strong Board, we are excited about our future in Tazewell County.”
Mrs. Irene Mullins was nominated to serve as vice-chair for the school board for the 2026 year. Mullins taught and was an administrator in Tazewell County Public Schools for 33 years. She was born and grew up in Tennessee, moving to Tazewell during her high school years, and graduated from Tazewell High School. Mullins has served as both chair and vice chair previously during her nine-year school board tenure. She has also served as Region Chair for the Virginia School Board Association. Mullins says, “It is an honor and privilege to serve as vice-chair this year. Tazewell County Schools are some of the best in the state due to our awesome teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and students.”
Other school board members include Mr. Brannon Breeding, Mrs. Donna Whittington, and Mr. David Woodard. The next regularly scheduled school board meeting will be held on Monday, February 9, 2026. The closed session will begin at 5 p.m., and the regular session will begin at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Student Center at the Tazewell County Career and Technical Center in Tazewell, Virginia.