democrat FOR Arlington school board

Meet zuraya

About Zuraya tapia-hadley

Hello, Arlington families and community members,

I'm Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, and I am thrilled to be a candidate for the Arlington School Board. As a dedicated mother with two children in the Arlington school system and a proud resident of this community for two decades, I am deeply committed to ensuring that our schools provide the best possible education for every child.

My journey in Arlington began as a young professional renting a home in Aurora Highlands. I chose to stay and raise a family here due to the exceptional quality of Arlington Public Schools. Currently residing in Green Valley with my husband Ross and our 10 and 12-year-old sons, I understand the importance of fostering an educational environment that supports the growth and development of every student.

In addition to my role as a mother, I've been actively involved in politics for the past 20 years at the national, state, and local levels. This experience gives me a unique perspective and a deep understanding of how to advocate effectively for positive change. I believe service is at the core of building a strong community, and I've dedicated my time to volunteer work that is aligned with my values of inclusion and fostering well-being for others.

Professionally, I started my career as a lawyer, then became a Congressional staffer, served an advocate for over 10 years in the non-profit sector, and for the last 8 years I have been a government affairs professional in the private sector, leading strategic policy efforts for Fortune 10 and Fortune 500 companies that resulted in the millions of dollars invested to support education and community development programs across the U.S.

I have also advised two Virginia Governors as a member of the Virginia Latino Advisory Board, appointed by Governors Tim Kaine and Terry McAuliffe. I hold a Master of Laws (LLM) from Georgetown University in International Law and undergraduate degree in Law.

As a School Board candidate, my focus is on fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students, educators, and staff. I bring a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to service, and a passion for education to this role, including my legal expertise and commitment to social justice. I am ready to work collaboratively with parents, educators, staff, and the community at large to ensure that our schools continue to excel and provide the best possible education for every child.

I ask for your support as we embark on this journey together to make Arlington's schools even better. Let's build a brighter future for our children and our community.

My Experience:

I have actively participated in politics at the national, state, and local levels for an extensive period. My unwavering dedication to community service and the pursuit of inclusivity and safety is evident through my volunteer engagements:

  • Member of the School Board Educational Technology Advisory Committee

  • Member and volunteer, Claremont Immersion PTA

  • Member, Padres Latinos Claremont Immersion

  • Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC), Board member, Vice Chair, and Chair 2009-2019

  • Arlington County Rec Soccer coach, 2019

  • Fairlington Court HOA Treasurer, 2014-2015

  • Arlington County Dems Latino Outreach volunteer, 2011-2012

  • Appointee to the Virginia Latino Advisory Board for 2 terms:  Gov. Tim Kaine (2007) and Governor Terry McAuliffe (2014)

  • Various roles as an election protection attorney, campaign volunteer at the state and federal level, and poll watcher 2006-2023.

  • Parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace since 2005

Why I’m Running

I bring a set of specific skills and policy-shaping experience, a proven ability to listen to community stakeholders to develop policies with the requisite support and information to pass and to effectively solve systemic issues. Most importantly, I bring a history and commitment to serve others - an essential qualification for any public servant.

I want to serve because I see a disconnect at the moment between APS and an important segment of the APS community, as well as with the broader Arlington community, which I intent to help bridge. I will be a parent in APS for the entire duration of my term, and will be impacted by every decision we make as a School Board during my term, if elected. I love Arlington County, I care deeply about my kids’ and all kids’ well-being and education, I believe that educators are at the center of our success, and I can bring a specific set of skills to help make life and school a little bit easier for families, educators, and staff, if you allow me the opportunity to serve you as a School Board member.

  • To build the Safest, Healthiest, Highest Quality Education system in the United States. I am confident that in Arlington we can achieve this together. I will be an engaged partner, responsive to educators, families, staff, and fellow school board members.

  • In the words of Ann Richards, “Why should your life be only about you?” I am running to be of service.

  • I believe in the strength of all of Arlington’s programs. I am grateful for the Dual Language Immersion program that my children are in and I believe in maintaining strong, high-quality neighborhood schools, including academically rigorous programs that meet the needs of all our kids and ensure that every family is served, feels heard, and is effectively represented.

If you want a committed partner on the school board that brings over 20 years of experience getting through hard policy discussions to implement real, representative, change, a partner that will be focused on delivering safety, quality education, and transparency, please join my campaign.