Deb Kerr

Deborah Kerr

Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Candidate Information

Candidate Biography

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Whether it be student-athletes on the court, student-scholars in the classroom or women-leaders in education, Deb’s contagious energy and can-do-spirit makes you smile and lifts you up to believe in yourself and your ability to make a difference.

Spend time with Deb and you want to do more. Be better. Achieve more. Lead greatly.

“Dr. Kerr has given me the confidence that a female can do anything she puts her mind to as long as she’s passionate and hard-working,” said Brown Deer Class of 2020 graduate Mattie Schimenz. “When I graduated I told my mom, ‘I feel like I can do anything!’”

Deb Kerr at a capitol finance hearingKara Turner, Director of Informational Services & Instructional Technology for Brown Deer Schools, says Kerr “mentored, lifted up, inspired and encouraged me to further my own career ambitions, move out of my comfort zone (and) become a member of her Cabinet. This act is not unique to me but to women across the state.”

After parent Jean Wells raised concerns at a Board meeting about neglected and run-down school grounds, Kerr later sought out Wells to ask her for ideas to beautify the space.

“That simple and genuine invitation from her led us down a multi-year path of planning, idea gathering and team-building that eventually led to a $22M referendum and an incredible transformation of the school grounds,” Wells said. [Brown Deer voters approved a separate $25.9M referendum seven years later.] “That experience meant the world to me and was initiated by Dr. Kerr’s welcoming spirit and her desire to engage and listen to parents.”

Source: https://kerr4kids.com/about-deb-kerr/