Dr. Maria Goodloe Johnson, the former Seattle Schools Superintendent, has died.
Family members say Goodloe-Johnson had been sick for about a year.
She served as Seattle School's superintendent until she was fired last year over a financial scandal in the district.
"As someone who has known Maria since I arrived on the board... she was a very passionate person, a very caring person and it's a loss to the education community," said Harlium Martin-Morris, Seattle School Board member.
Seattle Public Schools issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying "All of us at Seattle Public Schools are saddened to learn of the death today of our former Superintendent, Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson.
We are grateful for her years of service to Seattle Public Schools and her efforts during her four-year tenure here to put our students on the path to academic success. The fact that we have seen consistent improvements in student academic achievement is a testament to her leadership.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband Bruce and daughter Maya."
