May 16, 2024
PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement on the passing of former State Representative Jim Roebuck:
PHILADELPHIA-- "Representative Jim Roebuck was a good man with a deep and unfailing commitment to public education, to his constituents, and to the city and commonwealth at large. I am saddened by the loss of a friend and a champion for so many of the issues we fight for every day.
"For years, Representative Jim Roebuck was a mainstay in the fight for full and fair funding for public education. Not only was he always on the front lines speaking out publicly on issues of great import, he was also intimately involved in leading and crafting policy that would address some of the most pressing needs we face in our commonwealth.
"Representative Roebuck had a deep understanding of legislation and the nuances that influence good policy. And he knew how to build coalitions to fight for the issues that mattered most.
"Representative Roebuck saw first hand the needs of our public schools--not only by visiting schools but also because his beloved wife, the late Cheryl Roebuck was a phenomenal music teacher and PFT member who dedicated her life's work to Philadelphia's students.
"Never shying away from his support for public education, especially during efforts to privatize public schools, Representative Roebuck deserves a tremendous amount of credit for helping to shift the narrative around public education. He fought for a collective commitment to meeting what is now codified in law: our young people's right to a thorough and efficient system of public education.
"For that, and so many other reasons, we owe Representative Jim Roebuck a debt of gratitude.
"To our friend and our partner in advocacy: we will miss you."