A Phoenix native, Laura Pastor is a fifth generation Arizonan, who graduated from
St. Mary’s High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from
Arizona State University. For four years, Laura taught junior high students at the
Roosevelt and Isaac School Districts. During that time, she created a volunteer
program to provide after-school tutoring, and authored an accountability program
for teachers, students, and parents.
Currently, Laura serves as the Director of the nationally recognized Achieving a
College Education Program (ACE) at South Mountain Community College. ACE is
dedicated to assisting students’ transition from high school through community
college and on to earning a bachelor’s degree. Laura oversees all fiscal and
administrative management of the program including the coordination,
implementation, and outreach of ACE initiatives. She is charged with creating
partnerships between national, state, and municipal agencies as well as private
sector organizations.
In 2003, Laura became Special Assistant to the Arizona Director of Insurance. She
assisted with legislative matters, rules, and constituent activities, as well as
represented the Director of Insurance on various boards and commissions and
conducted special research projects. Additionally, she designed a consumer
awareness program for teenagers, the elderly and Hispanic constituencies
embodied in Auto Insurance 101, Health Care and Home Insurance. In 2004,
Laura joined the Department of Employment and Rehabilitation Services at the
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) as a training coordinator. She
worked on several departmental programs including the Service Initiative, the
Aging Initiative, and also evaluated contractors engaged with the agency.
In 1999, Laura was selected as one of 30 participants in the National Urban and
Rural Fellowship. She attended a master’s program at Baruch College's School of
Public Affairs, City University of New York. As part of this program, Laura relocated
to Chicago for her master’s practicum with the Board of Education at Chicago
Public Schools. There she organized the National Conference for the White House
Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans in Chicago and
designed and implemented Theater in Public Schools. She also participated in the
creation of the Global Educators Outreach.
In August 2000, Laura received her Master of Public Administration degree and
joined the City of Chicago’s Office of Language and Cultural Education as the
project director for Mayor Richard M. Daley’s innovative initiative Museums and
Public Schools (MAPS). She was responsible for a new partnership between nine
world class museums and Chicago Public Schools. Laura administered the
operating budget and collaborated with museum presidents, board members, and
non-profit organizations to continue the expansion of this program. MAPS served
over 10,000 students in grades 2nd through 6th.
She is a board member the Encanto Village Planning Committee and is a former
member of the Hispanic Advisory Board of Maricopa Community Colleges, the
Homeless Task Force, and Phoenix Day.
She resides in Phoenix with her husband, Henry Cotto, a former major league
baseball player and current minor league coach. They have three children, Henry
Jr., Claudia, and Eduardo.
Laura is the daughther of U.S. Congressman Ed Pastor and Verma Mendez Pastor,
former director of bilingual education for the Arizona Department of Education.
Source: Campaign;s website
St. Mary’s High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from
Arizona State University. For four years, Laura taught junior high students at the
Roosevelt and Isaac School Districts. During that time, she created a volunteer
program to provide after-school tutoring, and authored an accountability program
for teachers, students, and parents.
Currently, Laura serves as the Director of the nationally recognized Achieving a
College Education Program (ACE) at South Mountain Community College. ACE is
dedicated to assisting students’ transition from high school through community
college and on to earning a bachelor’s degree. Laura oversees all fiscal and
administrative management of the program including the coordination,
implementation, and outreach of ACE initiatives. She is charged with creating
partnerships between national, state, and municipal agencies as well as private
sector organizations.
In 2003, Laura became Special Assistant to the Arizona Director of Insurance. She
assisted with legislative matters, rules, and constituent activities, as well as
represented the Director of Insurance on various boards and commissions and
conducted special research projects. Additionally, she designed a consumer
awareness program for teenagers, the elderly and Hispanic constituencies
embodied in Auto Insurance 101, Health Care and Home Insurance. In 2004,
Laura joined the Department of Employment and Rehabilitation Services at the
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) as a training coordinator. She
worked on several departmental programs including the Service Initiative, the
Aging Initiative, and also evaluated contractors engaged with the agency.
In 1999, Laura was selected as one of 30 participants in the National Urban and
Rural Fellowship. She attended a master’s program at Baruch College's School of
Public Affairs, City University of New York. As part of this program, Laura relocated
to Chicago for her master’s practicum with the Board of Education at Chicago
Public Schools. There she organized the National Conference for the White House
Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans in Chicago and
designed and implemented Theater in Public Schools. She also participated in the
creation of the Global Educators Outreach.
In August 2000, Laura received her Master of Public Administration degree and
joined the City of Chicago’s Office of Language and Cultural Education as the
project director for Mayor Richard M. Daley’s innovative initiative Museums and
Public Schools (MAPS). She was responsible for a new partnership between nine
world class museums and Chicago Public Schools. Laura administered the
operating budget and collaborated with museum presidents, board members, and
non-profit organizations to continue the expansion of this program. MAPS served
over 10,000 students in grades 2nd through 6th.
She is a board member the Encanto Village Planning Committee and is a former
member of the Hispanic Advisory Board of Maricopa Community Colleges, the
Homeless Task Force, and Phoenix Day.
She resides in Phoenix with her husband, Henry Cotto, a former major league
baseball player and current minor league coach. They have three children, Henry
Jr., Claudia, and Eduardo.
Laura is the daughther of U.S. Congressman Ed Pastor and Verma Mendez Pastor,
former director of bilingual education for the Arizona Department of Education.
Source: Campaign;s website
Born: Phoenix, Arizona
Education: B.A. in Education
(ASU); Masters of Public
Administration (Baruch
College's School of Public
Affairs)Current job: Director
of "Achieving a College
Education Program" (ACE) at
South Mountain Community
College
Family: Married to Henry
Cotto former major league
baseball player; three children
Henry Jr., Claudia and
Eduardo. Daughther of U.S.
Congressman Ed Pastor and
Verma Mendez Pastor, former
director of bilingual education
for the Arizona Department of
Education.
Education: B.A. in Education
(ASU); Masters of Public
Administration (Baruch
College's School of Public
Affairs)Current job: Director
of "Achieving a College
Education Program" (ACE) at
South Mountain Community
College
Family: Married to Henry
Cotto former major league
baseball player; three children
Henry Jr., Claudia and
Eduardo. Daughther of U.S.
Congressman Ed Pastor and
Verma Mendez Pastor, former
director of bilingual education
for the Arizona Department of
Education.
| Laura at a Glance |
District 7
The fastest growing and most
dynamic part of Phoenix.
Neighborhoods in this district
range from old-school inner
city neighborhoods to million
dollar downtown lofts, from
the rural ambiance of Laveen
to the urban charm of historic
Encanto-Palmcroft.
Source: phoenix.gov
The fastest growing and most
dynamic part of Phoenix.
Neighborhoods in this district
range from old-school inner
city neighborhoods to million
dollar downtown lofts, from
the rural ambiance of Laveen
to the urban charm of historic
Encanto-Palmcroft.
Source: phoenix.gov
Who is Laura Pastor?
A Latina with a strong background in education running for Phoenix City Council
District 7
District 7
| Laura Pastor |
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