Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today released the following statement on the death of Tucson Unified School District governing board member and past president Judy Burns:

“Judy was as compassionate a public education leader as I’ve ever known. Her advocacy for better schools, which began years before she joined the governing board, set an example for the community and her peers, and her contribution will be felt for many, many years to come. I wish more people could have known what a great job she did on behalf of the students and families she served. She understood public education, she cared about her role and the outcomes of her decisions, and she always put the needs of schools and students first. Her passing is a great loss for all of us, and I believe I speak for many others in saying she will truly be missed.”