AEF Team

Kim Graham began her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) in November 2018. She was recently named a 2024 Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Piper Fellow. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of Louisiana A+ Schools, a nationally known whole-school transformation model focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). Graham is the former Director of Education and Community Engagement at The Phoenix Symphony, where she created Mind Over Music, an unprecedented STEAM collaboration between Symphony musicians and teachers. She also expanded the Symphony’s outreach services by establishing the award-winning B-Sharp Music Wellness program, a multi-faceted music wellness experience for healthcare and community facilities that serve individuals experiencing Alzheimer’s, dementia, and homelessness.

Graham spent most of her professional career in Tennessee, where she created and designed two nationally known arts integration STEAM initiatives launched during her tenure as Director of Arts Education for the Tennessee Arts Commission. Both programs were cited by the National Governor’s Association as models for states seeking education reform through the arts. Graham is the former Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Arts Education Advisory Group and has taught workshops and served as a panelist for The John F. Kennedy Center, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Arts Education Partnership. In addition to her role as Chief Executive Officer of AEF, Kim serves on the board of Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K12 Center, the National Advisory Council for the University of Phoenix’s College of Education, and has been the Arizona State Coordinator for the National Teacher of the Year program. Early in her career, Kim taught high school and worked as a professional actress, director and playwright for The Renaissance Center and Roxy Regional Theatre, both in Tennessee. A native of Buckhannon, W.V., Kim holds a Master of Arts Degree in Theatre and Speech Communications, a Master of Arts Degree in English, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Arts.

Brett Bonner is a third-generation educator with 28 years of service in Arizona public schools. Currently, he serves as the Director of Professional Development and Dean of the A.E.F. Academy at the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF), where he is committed to improving education statewide. Through his collaborative leadership, Brett advances A.E.F.’s mission by celebrating excellence and implementing programs that support the success of Arizona’s public schools.

With a strong focus on leadership development, he has effectively implemented programs that benefit educators and students across Arizona. His career includes leadership roles such as Principal and Assistant Superintendent, further solidifying his expertise in education. He has extensive knowledge and experience with A.E.F. initiatives, serving as an A+ School of Excellence Lead Judge and school principal of an A+ school. Brett holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Throughout his career, Brett has earned several professional accolades, including the A.S.A. Distinguished Administrator of the Year for Educational Services, A.S.A./N.A.E.S.P. National Distinguished Principal (Finalist), and the Rodel Foundation’s Exemplary Principal Award. In his current role, he designs high-quality training programs to enhance school leadership effectiveness and coordinates professional development sessions focused on continuous school improvement.

Additionally, Brett’s leadership experience extends across multiple areas, including Student Services, Curriculum & Instruction, State & Federal Grants, Career & Technical Education, and Academic Programs & Assessments. Brett is dedicated to supporting Arizona Public Schools, advancing the Mission and Vision of the Arizona Educational Foundation, and advocating for education as a respected and honorable profession.

Emily Ramirez-Lara joined the Arizona Educational Foundation in 2023 as Project Coordinator and has gone on to work in some capacity with all of AEF’s programs, including serving as the Arizona Spelling Bee State Coordinator. Now, as AEF’s Senior Director of Programs & Partnerships, she provides leadership for all of AEF’s school-based programs and unique partnerships. A first-generation Latina college graduate from Arizona State University, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies with an emphasis in Nonprofit Administration, and previously attended schools in the Glendale Elementary School District and Glendale Union High School District. With a background in education and youth development, Emily made a significant impact as the Co-Director of Unitown, an esteemed leadership and empowerment camp for high school students. In this role, she was instrumental in designing and developing content that guides and inspires young minds to become confident, compassionate, and socially responsible leaders. Emily proudly served with AmeriCorps, honing invaluable skills and contributing to community-driven initiatives. As a College Access Specialist with over four years of expertise, she played a crucial role in guiding students towards achieving their higher education aspirations. Notably, Emily received the prestigious 2021-2022 Achievement Above All Volunteer Award from the GUHSD Governing Board, recognizing her outstanding leadership and exceptional accomplishments within educational settings. As a Contractor for the Phoenix Public Library Foundation, Emily had the privilege of producing captivating videos for the Dinner in the Stacks fundraising event, contributing to raising over $23,000 in support of the Phoenix Public Library. Her multimedia initiatives exemplify a strong commitment to driving social impact. Emily’s expertise in Financial Aid has been showcased through professional appearances on Univision, where she shares vital information and empowers individuals through education and access to resources. Outside of her television engagements, Emily recorded Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and educational content for Mayor Kate Gallegos, leaving a positive impact on community awareness and promoting citywide initiatives. In addition to her professional endeavors, Emily pioneered the development of a monthly scholarship highlights series on YouTube, reaching a wider audience and inspiring the pursuit of higher education.

As Senior Director of Development & Advancement, Chance brings a wealth of experience in education and nonprofit work. Prior to AEF, he served Arizona students at School Connect and worked in early childhood education at Candelen. His nonprofit career began at the American Cancer Society in Fargo, ND, where he earned regional and per capita fundraising awards.

Originally from Aurora, Colorado, Chance began his commitment to education in high school, working in before- and after-school programs and coaching youth sports—a passion he maintained throughout his college years at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He chose MSUM for its esteemed education program and initially pursued a degree in Secondary Education, aiming to become a high school social studies teacher. However, after adapting to shifts in the education landscape, he graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Legal Studies, along with a minor in Coaching.

Currently, Chance is completing his Master’s in Business Administration online at the University of Arizona. When he’s not studying, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Sumaiya, and their two sons, Caleb and Sakic.

Mark is a passionate and accomplished educator with two decades of experience in Arizona’s public education system. Throughout his career—as a classroom teacher, academic coach, and STEM specialist—Mark has remained steadfast in his mission to elevate both student achievement and teacher excellence. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Science.
Rooted in a family of educators, Mark brings a deep understanding of the transformative role teachers play in shaping student success. As Director of Education at the Arizona Educational Foundation, he works to bridge the gap between education and workforce readiness by championing skills-based learning and career-connected instruction statewide.

Mark’s influence extends beyond the classroom. He has contributed to shaping state-level education policy and workforce alignment through his service on multiple committees, including the K–5 Career Literacy Standards Review Team, the eCTE Health Career Standards, the STEM AZ Education Collaborative Advisory Council, and the Arizona AI Alliance. His work helps ensure Arizona’s students are equipped with the foundational and future-ready skills needed to thrive in an evolving economy.

Danielle is an Arizona native and is a product of Arizona public schools. She lived in central Phoenix, northern Arizona, and is now on the east side of the Valley with her husband and daughter. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Certified Nonprofit Professional credential from Arizona State University. Danielle has years of experience with community engagement, fundraising, volunteer management, event planning, and community training and is committed to strengthening families and communities through education and building bridges between individuals and the resources in their communities. She’s worked at the Childhelp Children’s Center of Arizona, Valley of the Sun YMCA, and American Family Insurance. She is excited to join with the Arizona Educational Foundation and increase awareness of our programs, expand our reach into communities, and support all of our programs.

Erik Rendelman is an educator and nonprofit administrator with over fifteen years of experience, working with students of all ages both in and out of the classroom.

Graduating from Northern Arizona University with a dual Bachelors in Elementary and Special Education, Erik brings his passion for supporting teachers and schools to Arizona Educational Foundation. With a variety of experience in event management and educational development, Erik is a lifelong learner and dedicated to the AEF mission of highlighting the amazing work of Arizona public schools.

Krissy joined AEF as the Marketing Manager in November of 2024. Her prior work experience includes serving as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Back to School Clothing Drive. She attended elementary, middle, and high school in the Scottsdale Unified School District and has a degree in journalism from Arizona State University.

Emilie Saint Amour is a recent graduate from Central Michigan University where she obtained her degrees in Nonprofit and Public Administration, and International Relations. Following graduation, Emilie moved to Arizona to begin her career as a nonprofit professional.

Jonathan Perrone is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) educational expert from Phoenix, AZ. For the past 18 years, Jonathan has led his students, both children and adults, on a journey to discover the wondrous principles and practices in the many fields of science and STEAM. Mr. Perrone’s STEAM programs have offered students the opportunity to engage with topics such as computer science, engineering solutions to real-world problems, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D Printing, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), inquiry science, virtual reality, and much more. In 2019, Jonathan was recognized as an Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) Teacher of the Year Ambassador for Excellence.

Currently, Jonathan is the teachSTEM Coordinator for AEF and a STEM Education Faculty at Arizona State University. He is a dedicated educator and a committed father to his elementary-aged daughters, Seraphina and Gianna. He is married to his wonderful wife, Veronica, who is also an educator and professional development provider for early childhood teachers. Jonathan hopes to continue his path in education, striving to bring more innovation and creativity into classrooms at the state and national levels.