Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence

PENNY KOTTERMAN (Democrat)

Phone: 602.549.7040

Endorsed By: Chandler Chamber of Commerce; Communication Workers of America; Arizona American Federation of Teachers; Arizona American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Arizona Women’s Political Caucus; U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell and Raul Grijalva; state Sens. Linda Lopez, Rebecca Rios and Ken Cheuvront; state Reps. Tom Chabin, David Schapira, Lynne Pancrazi, Nancy Young Wright and Steve Farley; Emily’s List; and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

Background: Penny Kotterman has influenced public education for over thirty years, with experience as a teacher, teacher trainer, mentor and coach. She served on the National Education Association’s Professional Standards and Practices committee, president of the Arizona Education Association for six years, played an extensive role with several committees for the Arizona Department of Education and is a member of the Career Ladder Advisory Committee. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Programs and Policies for the Arizona K12 Center. Penny’s goals for education in Arizona include a focus on enabling success as opposed to punishing failure of students, teachers and parents. She argues that maximizing technology is vital to a modern successful education system. Teacher recruitment and training programs should be rigorous, creating a force of the most qualified and well trained individuals, with a focus on continued growth and career development. According to Kotterman, some of the biggest issues facing students are the threat of violence and bullying in schools, low graduation rates for minorities, and emphasizing the need for career preparation. Lastly, AIMS testing should be used to its fullest potential, not simply to determine if a school is “failing”. Kotterman wants to change the face of the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction by making the position about leaders from the field of education, not career politicians.