This week, we invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 5 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.
Below is the unedited response from Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, who is running for Arlington School Board.
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley: Why You Should Vote For Me For Arlington School Board
My entire life has been defined by having to disrupt entrenched systems in order to achieve positive, constructive change. I came to the United States when I was four years old, and over time, my family and I learned to live and thrive in this exceptional country – a country that has given me the opportunity to run for office. And yet, I have experienced that many services, agencies, and systems were designed, despite the best of intentions, in such a way that they serve only a small portion of our society. I’m running because I believe this must be changed and, in the case of APS, I want to serve and work together and ensure that all families are heard and represented on the School Board.
Growing up attending area public schools inspired me to pursue a law degree, which allowed me to be an agent of positive change and ultimately led me on a career that spans government, industry, and nonprofit work. I have been an executive at a Fortune 50 company, advocate and director of national nonprofit organizations, Congressional staff, and advisor to two Virginia Governors as an appointee to the Virginia Latino Advisory Board. I would bring this executive, legal, policy, and advocacy experience to the Arlington School Board, and if elected, my top priorities include:
- Maintaining the high quality of education in our schools – We must pay salaries that are competitive with neighboring school systems and address our staffing shortfall. We must make smart choices, such as investing in literacy interventions for children in elementary school who are not reading at grade level, to avoid more costly remedial work later in middle and high school. Furthermore, we must support both English Language Learners and children with disabilities to ensure that all students are receiving a quality education and invest in programming that allows all our students to reach their full potential.
- Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students and educators in our schools – Kids’ learning conditions are our educators’ and staff working conditions – as a School Board we must continue to find the right community development, mental health, and anti-bullying solutions to ensure that all students, educators, and staff feel safe and welcome at school. This means providing financial resources and building a culture where bullying and abuse is not tolerated.
- Improving transparency and communication between all members of APS and the broader Arlington community – I have spoken with members of our community who have voiced their concerns about the communication shortfalls between the School Board, educators, faculty, staff, school administrators, parents and students – especially for those who speak English as a second language. As a fellow parent in APS that is fully bilingual and bicultural, I hear from other parents and educators that APS communications are too often inaccessible. As a professional communicator I will work to bridge these gaps.
My priorities for APS are shared by many local organizations and community leaders and, along with my decades of community volunteer work and experience, have earned me the endorsement of the Democratic Party, the Arlington Education Association (AEA), NoVA Labor, Everytown For Gun Safety, The Sierra Club, and an array of current and former elected officials.
I am proud of the broad and deep support I have earned, which is reflective of my ability to work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders. And while the School Board’s primary role is to approve the APS budget and hire a Superintendent who then manages the school system, I believe that it is incumbent on the next School Board members to also set a tone, culture, and system of governance that prioritizes the very real, ongoing needs of so many of our families, educators, and staff.
Finally, in addition to my experience, skills, and commitment to serve others, I have a deep commitment to the Arlington school system. I am a 20-year Arlington resident, and my husband and I decided to raise our family here because of the high-quality public education system. With one son now in middle school and another in fifth grade, I am deeply invested in the success of APS.
In sum, I believe that I have demonstrated the trust, skills, and vision to make our school system the best in the United States of America, and if elected, I will work each day to be worthy of your support. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my candidacy and I ask to be one of your two votes and the opportunity to serve you on the Arlington School Board!
For more information you can visit our website: https://www.zurayatapia4schoolboard.org/, review my candidate profile, and follow us on social media:
@Facebook: @ZurayaTapia4SchoolBoard
@Instagram: @ZurayaTapia4Schools
