As Virginia’s premier Anti-racist media publication, we at PW Perspective have a duty to support candidates who will bring positive change to the community. At a time when our schools and teachers are under attack from the far-right, it’s more important than ever to ensure that our school board will stand up and fight for students and teachers.

After careful consideration, we are proud to announce our endorsement of three candidates for Prince William County School Board. These candidates are Padreus Pratter in the Neabsco District, Justin Wilk in the Potomac District, and Lisa Zargarpur in the Coles District.

As a community leader and parent of PWCS students, Padreus Pratter has earned the endorsement of Supervisor Victor Angry (D-Neabsco). As a public servant, a parent, and a specialist at the U.S. Department of Education employee, Pratter knows the challenges our public schools are facing, and he knows how to address them. Pratter has centered his campaign around promoting safe and inclusive environments for students, striving for academic excellence for all students, and creating a commitment to constituent services and engaging with families. He is a member of his Homeowners Association Board, and he serves as a Prince William County Human Rights Commissioner. As a federal employee, Pratter chose to run as an independent rather than seeking the endorsement of either party due to the restrictions of the Hatch Act.

Pratter is running against Tracy Blake who is endorsed by the Prince William County Democratic Committee. 

As the Potomac District School Board incumbent, Justin Wilk is seeking another term. During his time on the board, Wilk has been committed to community engagement, school safety, special education, and expanding access to Pre-K. Wilk’s time on the board has seen the rapid expansion of Prince William County Schools, and his efforts have helped maintain maneuverability, ensuring our schools can scale to the growth. While overcrowding is still an issue in our public schools, Wilk is dedicated to addressing it. That dedication, in part, has earned him our endorsement. Wilk has also been endorsed by Delegates Candi King, Briana Sewell, and Luke Torian, Supervisors Vic Angry (D-Neabsco), Andrea Bailey (D-Potomac), Kenny Boddye (D-Occoquan) and Margaret Franklin (D-Woodbridge), and outgoing Occoquan District School Board member Lillie Jessie among others. He is running against far-right candidate Mario R Beckles, who has the endorsement of Moms for Liberty, a group labeled as “antigovernment and conspiracy propagandist” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group holds deeply racist and anti-LGBTQ+ ideals, and it is imperative to the safety of Prince William County students that Wilk is reelected. 

As a parent, teacher, and the incumbent Coles District School Board representative, Lisa Zargarpur is the clear choice in the Coles District race. Zargarpur has served on the school board since first being elected in 2019, and her dedication to the community is incomparable. During her first term, Zargarpur helped reduce the student-to-counselor ratio, increase the amount of TA positions for special education students, and create positions for more parent liaisons. Zargarpur has been endorsed by the Prince William County Democratic Committee, and she is running against Stephen Spiker, who has been endorsed by the Prince William County Republican Committee.

PW Perspective proudly supports these three candidates, and we believe that their work will help protect our students and teachers in order to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment. Early voting has already begun, and the election will be held on Tuesday, November 7th.