Summary
Current Position: Teacher
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: Senate District 36
Growing up in a working class immigrant family, a former teacher, and mother to six children, Stella has always fought to ensure future generations have opportunities to achieve success. On the School Board, she has fought to increase teacher pay and successfully stood up to Youngkin’s partisan agenda to strip away local control of our schools.
A long-time Centreville resident and a small business owner, Stella and her husband are raising their six children in this wonderful community.
Source: Campaign site
OnAir Post: Stella Pekarsky
News
FFX Now, – June 21, 2023
n two upsets, Sully District school board representative Stella Pekarsky eked out a win over veteran state Sen. George Barker for the 36th District nomination, while Fairfax Young Democrats vice president Saddam Azlan Salim ousted Sen. Chap Petersen in the 37th District.
Currently in her first term on the Fairfax County School Board after getting elected in 2019, Pekarsky received 52.2% of the vote — just 662 more votes than Barker, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
First elected in 2007, Barker was pursuing a fifth term in the state Senate. Encompassing Chantilly, Centreville and Clifton, the 36th District was created by the Virginia Supreme Court during the 2021 redistricting process and includes just a portion of Barker’s former 39th District.
In a statement, Pekarsky thanked Barker “for a hard fought campaign on the issues.”
“Our constituents benefited from the conversation and I look forward to uniting behind our shared vision of standing up for Democratic values,” she said. “I am running to stand up for public education, protect abortion access, keep our community safe from gun violence, and build a brighter future for the next generation. I look forward to sharing that message with every voter in the district leading up to November’s election.”
About
A Lifelong Virginian & Daughter of Immigrants
My passion for education and its promise of lifelong opportunity began while I was growing up. The oldest daughter in a Greek-American working class immigrant family, I spent my early years between Greece and Virginia but ultimately found my home here. I would spend my Saturdays sitting in my mother’s Greek language class at our church. I would promptly go home and conduct my own class with my younger siblings and stuffed animals as students.
My parents helped me understand from an early age that a strong education would open up doors and opportunities for me as an adult. As a student whose first language was not English, I had to navigate the world of two cultures and languages, as so many of our neighbors do today.
After high school graduation, I pursued a degree in Government & Politics at George Mason University and completed it within 3 years. During this time, I worked and sought out scholarships to pay for my schooling. These early experiences sparked my passion for fighting for my community, which I have devoted myself to since.
A Teacher and Small Business Owner
I began substitute teaching in Fairfax County Public Schools, here in the Sully District. While substitute teaching, I earned a Masters of Ed. in Multicultural & Multilingual Education and certification as an ESOL teacher. I began teaching full time for FCPS. My husband and I chose Centreville to be our home in 2001 because of its wonderful schools and we are now raising our six incredible children here. Together, we co-founded Skyway Air Taxi, a local air charter company and I currently run the daily customer operations.
A Leader on the School Board and Beyond
While I took a break from the full-time classroom to raise my children and start our family air charter business, I never took a break from helping children and families. I began serving as your Sully District representative on the Fairfax County School Board in 2020, where I have fought for every student and guided our return to in-school learning. Additionally, I led the lawsuit against Glenn Youngkin’s attempt to steal our local control of our schools. Previously, I have served as HOA President, President of several PTAs in the Sully District, taught adult ESOL classes, and worked with underserved youth through Cornerstones.
In 2018, I was proud to be one of the parent leader advocates of More Recess for Virginians who successfully lobbied our state legislators to change the law that prohibited localities from providing developmentally adequate recess for our children. I have also served as an advisory board member to BRAWS (Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters), President of Rocky Run PTA, VP of Outreach for Fairfax County Council PTA, member of the NAACP Education committee, At-Large appointee to the Fairfax County Schools Student Health Advisory Committee, and Sully District appointee on the Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees.
Senate District 36
Contact
Email: Contact
Locations
Stella Pekarsky PO
Box 231191 Centreville, VA 20120
