Est. in 1990, the Education Council is a joint body of Pima County, Santa Cruz County, and the City of Tucson

The Education Council unites learners, educators, and officials from education, government, and the community to empower a more educated and engaged community by connecting learners to opportunities to thrive with purpose.

In 1990, a group of elected officials, including Raul Grijalva, then a Pima County Board Supervisor and now U.S. Representative for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, along with Thomas Volgy, then Mayor of Tucson and currently a professor of political science at the University of Arizona, jointly established the Metropolitan Education Commission. This was formalized through the adoption of Resolution No. 1990-178 by Pima County and Resolution No. 15433 by the City of Tucson. In 2025, Rocque Perez, then Tucson City Council Member and Chair for the Commission, and Rex Scott, Pima County Board Supervisor, led the Commission's evolution into the Southern Arizona Education Council. The Commission was created in response to various educational challenges identified within the community, impacting children, youth, and adults across metropolitan Tucson and the broader Pima County area.
The Council shall fulfill the following regional functions under a mission to empower a more educated and engaged community by connecting learners to opportunities to thrive with purpose.

Identify and develop solutions to issues of economic, political, and social importance to education, ensuring responsiveness to the needs of learners, educators, and the community;

Convene and coordinate public, private, and community-based agencies to enhance the educational welfare of children, teens, and adults;

Promote ideas, programs, and practices that deliver high-quality educational outcomes and expand access to learning opportunities across all ages and stages;

Elevate and align the efforts of organizations engaged in education and civic development to ensure public awareness and shared pursuit of educational excellence;

Advocate for sound policies, practices, and public commitments necessary to advance educational opportunity, civic engagement, and regional well-being.
The Council consists of twenty-four (24) appointed members. Membership is composed as follows:

One (1) Chief Executive Officer, who shall also serve as President of the Council.

One (1) Pima County Superintendent of Schools or designee

One (1) Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools or designee

One (1) representative of the Office of the Arizona Governor

One (1) Pima County Board Supervisor or county designee

One (1) Santa Cruz County Board Supervisor or county designee

One (1) Tucson Council Member or city designee

Appointed by the Council’s Executive Committee:

Two (2) learners, aged 16–21

One (1) educator for grades K–5

One (1) educator for grades 6–8

One (1) educator for grades 9–12

One (1) school principal

One (1) school district superintendent or chief executive officer

One (1) representative of an organization serving children or youth

Six (6) at-large representative of the broader academic or civic community

Appointed or Assumed by Post-Secondary Institutions

Three (3) Presidents or Chancellors, or their designees, representative of public postsecondary institutions.

The Council also consists of Affiliate Members who do not cary governing authority but engage and work with the Council.

Meet the TEAM

Pablo Martinez

Program Team Co-Lead

Karla Pinuelas

Program Team Co-Lead

Braelyn Huff

College Readiness Associate

Meet the Commission

Rex Scott

Pima County

Board Supervisor & Chair

Rocque perez

City of Tucson

Councilmember, Ward 5

Dustin Williams

Pima County

Superintendent of Schools

Jose Gastelum

Sunnyside Unified School District

Superintendent

Dave Mason

San Miguel High School

President and CEO

Marla Franco

University of Arizona

Special Advisor, Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives

Matthew Schmidgall

Pima County, Health Department

Program Manager

Sharon O'Brien

Executive Director

Literacy Connects

Irene Robles-Lopez

Pima Community College

Vice Chancellor, Student Experience

Jake Blumenthal

Advisor & Portfolio Analyst

Meridian Wealth Management LLC

Robert Ramirez

Workforce Initiatives Manager