PPep Inc Executive Team

 In 1967, while working for the Head Start Program, Dr. Arnold wrote the first PPEP, Inc. grant proposal submitted to the Tucson War on Poverty Program, which was initiated by the Presidents Kennedy/Johnson Administrations.  The initial funding was for $19,000, from which he bought a 48 passenger 1957 Chevrolet school bus known as “La Tortuga” (the tortoise).  Dr. Arnold was the driver, mechanic and school teacher imparting practical educational teachings to help the Bracero farmworkers prepare themselves to be productive in our society.  Having lived in Mexico, he understood first-hand what it was to live and study in an unfamiliar society with a different language and culture.

From PPEP’s humble beginnings aboard La Tortuga 49 years ago, Dr. Arnold, the PPEP Board of Directors and dedicated staff have sought to carry out the dreams to “improve the quality of life” of the farmworkers and rural poor whom visited the bus in those formative years.  His work has been cited as national models 10 times in U.S. Congressional Records, including citations by U.S. Congressmen Udall, Kolbe, Pastor, Grijalva, Giffords, and Senators: DeConcini, McCain, Kyl and Enzi of Wyoming. His programs have been honored twice at the White House, among numerous other recognitions nationally and internationally.  US Congressman, Ed Pastor wrote “It is your vision and energy that transformed ‘La Tortuga’ into a major force for ‘Improving the quality of life in Arizona and the world”.  US Senator, Mike Enzi wrote, “you may be the most innovative person I know.  It’s always fascinating to learn of your new and intriguing advances, plus being a voice for the migrant farmworker and their kids.”  Senator McCain stated “Ultimately much of our future depends on programs such as PPEP” www.ppep.org.

 In July of 1987, Kari began working with PPEP, Inc.  Kari has been with the organization going on 33 years. She holds the position of Deputy CEO and oversees eight of the program divisions and staff for the corporation.  She Kari holds a BSB in Business Management, graduated with honors Lamda Sigma Delta Mu Delta Honors Society for International Business and held the position of Chapter Vice President for 2 years.

Kari is involved in two regional associations to include the Rocky Mountain HI Association and the Western Alliance of Farmworker Advocates, is on the Executive committee of the National Association of Farmworker Opportunities Program and sits on the National Board for YouthBuild USA.  In Arizona, she sits on the WIOA workforce board in Pima County and is involved as a partner with Yuma, La Paz, Cochise, Maricopa, Pinal, Graham/Greenlee, and Santa Cruz workforce boards.  Kari has participated and been involved with the Marana Prevention Alliance to educate on topics to decrease underage drinking and drug use, and a part of other community coalitions and programs supporting youth and adult initiatives in Arizona.  She has worked to develop sustainable partnerships in the creation of innovative training programs, to include an Aircraft Structures program in partnership with Bombardier and Pima County Workforce, providing career pathways in demand occupations and a pipeline of trained individuals for industry.

Kari is a lifelong learner, an avid reader, an advocate to those who are less fortunate and advocates for staff development in areas of understanding trauma based behaviors, motivational interviewing and pathways to progress. Her motto: “Dream Fearlessly, for your desire to succeed to should be greater than your fear of Failure”. Her mission: “We Change Lives” and incorporates that in all that she does and in the programs she operates.  Her goal is to become an independent consultant, develop programs that promote opportunity, deal with at risk populations, and provide an avenue encompassing economic development and self-sustainability.

 Wayne Tucker is the Superintendent of PPEP TEC High School, a network of six alternative high school campuses stretching across Southern Arizona. The mission of PTHS is to provide innovative, high quality educational opportunities to students whose needs have not been met by traditional schools and who are at risk of disengaging from the educational system. Wayne began his academic career as a biology student in his home state of Florida but transferred to Bennington College, in Vermont, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, concentrating in epistemology and cognitive systems. Some years later, he earned a Master of Secondary education degree from the University of Arizona and has been devoted to the study of Alternative Education throughout his entire teaching career.

Wayne was a member the first teacher team at Buena High School’s Alternative Learning Center, located in Sierra Vista, AZ, which was subsequently designated an Exemplary Program by the Arizona Department of Education and included for national replication in its Dropout Prevention Toolkit. He has turned around high school programs in Douglas and Bisbee, where he served as a Lead Teacher and Department Head, respectively. He is also a board member of the Arizona Alternative Education Consortium and has been appointed by the Arizona State Board of Education to its Alternative Accountability Technical Advisory Committee. Since moving into the role of Superintendent of PTHS, Wayne has committed himself to developing leadership capacity within the sites and fostering a culture of safety, support and intellectual challenge.

Bio Here