Penny Kotterman

Penny Kotterman

Kotternman, Penny (Democrat)

Phone: (602) 549-7040
Email: pam@pennykotterman.com
Website: www.pennykotterman.com
16059 S. 14th Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85045
(Mail: 802 N. Third Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003)

Age: 53 (6/3/57, Britt, IA).

Arizona since: 1984.

Occupation: Associate director of program and new policy, Arizona K12 Center, NAU, since 2006; education policy and research, Penny Kotterman, LLC, 2004-06; vice president, president, AZ Education Association, 1998-06; teacher, mentor and district program specialist, Kyrene Elementary School District, 1995-98; teacher and district program facilitator, Tempe Elementary School District, 1986-95; teacher, Peoria Public Schools (Illinois), 1978-84.

Marital: Widowed.

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Methodist.

Education: Education administration certification, ASU, 1988; M.S., education administration/curriculum and instruction, Illinois State University, 1983; B.S., education, Western Illinois University, 1978.

Political experience: Worked on numerous school board elections, bond and override campaigns in Arizona and in Peoria, IL; East Valley coordinator, ACE initiative; chair, AEA-PAC, for six years; AZ representative, NEA-PAC; precinct committeeman; delegate to the 1996 Democratic Convention; field staff for the Kerry campaign in Ohio; campaign coordinator for the Greg Stanton City Council race; education liaison for the Jim Pederson for Senate race; field coordinator for the state trust land Prop. 103.

Memberships have included: AZ Education Association/NEA; National Staff Development Council; Association of Staff and Curriculum Development; Council for Exceptional Children; AZ Town Hall; AZ Business and Education Coalition; The Education Coalition/Learning First Alliance; Teacher Education Preparation Commission; Citizens Finance Review Commission; board of directors, The Nature Conservancy; board of directors, Valley Partnership; board of directors, Labor Community Service Agency; NAU College of Education Advisory Committee; ASU Education Initiative Steering Committee; Governor’s Task Force on Efficiency and Accountability; NEA Professional Standards and Practices Committee; various other AZ Department of Education task forces and committees.

Interests: I love reading, cooking, all things education related, political engagement and volunteering.

Issues:

Political influence: Thomas Jefferson, for his views on the balance between states’ rights and federalism, his establishment of the common schools and universities, and his belief about freedom and intellect being irrevocably entwined. In my lifetime I also have been influenced by the vision and tenacity of the Kennedy family and the compassion and greatness of senators like Wellstone and Udall.

Changes to duties: I am a career teacher and educator, and as such my first responsibility is to the students of Arizona and giving them the tools they need to be successful from the outset. The actions of the department will be transparent and motivated solely by what is needed in my experience as a parent, teacher, and teacher mentor to improve and strengthen our public schools. I will be accessible to parents, teachers, educators and school district leadership, and my department will be available to help them solve their problems and improve their schools, not bury them in needless paperwork and punish them when they can’t keep up. I propose that the superintendent actively engage in making it easier for school districts and charter schools to provide a high-quality education instead of simply waiting for them to fail and pointing out their mistakes. The Department of Education should be a resource, not an impediment to success.

Top priority: Change the focus of the Department of Education and public education from one of testing to one of supporting teaching and learning. Also, have quality instruction that meets the needs of all of our students and a department of education that keeps the right to an equitable and adequate education at the front of any decision. Assessments should be used to measure the progress of students and be a significant part of measuring the overall quality and effectiveness of our schools. We must change this conversation from one of punishment and consequences to one of learning and improvement based on high standards and high expectations for our students, our teachers and our schools.

Failing schools: First, create a consistent and easily understood definition of failing and under-performing schools so that we clearly identify schools that are chronically failing to achieve success for their students. I would bring the department’s considerable energy and resources to these schools, and make the bottom 10 percent of those district and charter schools a department priority. I will work with the State Board for Charter Schools on a fair and reasonable accountability process and timelines to improve or close failing charters. I will work with the State Board of Education, education organizations, active parent groups, local governing boards and charter boards to review the current school improvement process and develop appropriate, well-researched models of school improvement based on individual school needs.

Background & experience: The backbone of my entire career in education is my 18 years as a classroom teacher, where I taught kindergarten through the 12th grade and nearly every major content area to some of our poorest children and some of our wealthiest. I have also worked in higher education providing coursework, professional development for new and experienced teachers and administrators, and grant and program management. Outside the classroom, I have experience working with other agencies and parents, and I have been a member of numerous non-profit boards, state and national committees and commissions. These experiences give me a breadth and depth of experience that will serve our state well as we tackle the issues that face our schools and children.

Prop. 100 sales tax: I supported the sales tax, and my campaign worked to encourage voters to do the same. I believe it was the only reasonable way to prevent additional massive cuts to our public schools. I also believe the Legislature should have enacted the sales tax themselves much earlier instead of passing the buck to the voters. Doing so would have prevented many of the serious cuts our schools have suffered so far. I see the sales tax as a temporary measure that can provide us with three years to work together to find a long-term solution for adequately and equitably funding our education system.

Campaign finance: private.