About Pam

Contact Pam at pam@pamcostain.org

I was born into a family of teachers – mother, father, aunts, cousins, siblings. Everyone I knew was a teacher. Classrooms, kids, social studies, math, discipline and grades were the talk of family meals and social gatherings. I grew up believing that teaching is a noble profession and that every child can learn.

My life has been dedicated to teaching and learning in some form since my early years.

I graduated from high school in Minot, North Dakota, earned a BA in Urban Studies from Carleton College and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Minnesota. While at Carleton I met Paul and Sheila Wellstone, who became lifelong friends.

My first job out of college was working for the Minneapolis Urban Studies Term – an experiential learning program introducing area college students to life in the city.

For ten years I taught adult literacy and English as a Second Language with the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools. I also taught in the Veteran’s Upward Bound Program at Minneapolis Community College.

For fourteen years I served as the Executive Director of the Resource Center of the Americas. Through the Resource Center I helped to bring global and multicultural education to Minnesota classrooms, educated the public about human rights and immigrant rights, and managed an annual $1.5 million dollar budget.
I helped to found and was the first state director of Save Our Schools/Parents United Network. This important organization organizes parents to support adequate funding for public education at the legislature.

Since 2003 I have been the Education and Training Director for Wellstone Action, helping to carry on the legacy of Paul and Sheila Wellstone. Our ambitious educational program has trained more than 9000 people in 28 states.

For seventeen years I volunteered in the Minneapolis Public Schools, working in the classroom, on the site council, in the PTO and of course, helping to raise money.

Pam and her daughters with Jimmy and Roslyn Carter

I am the proud parent of two daughters, Rosa and Mattie, who graduated from the Minneapolis Public Schools. They are remarkable young women, in part due to the great education they received at Longfellow, Ramsey and South High.

I am married to Larry Weiss and have lived in the Powderhorn and Bancroft neighborhoods for 35 years.

I love to hike and snow shoe, retreat to the woods of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, read poetry, spend time with family and friends, and dance.

Every day I try to make a difference. I believe that change is possible when people work together to create it.