NASBE to honor Utah's Burningham

State Board of Education member Kim Burningham is being given the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Boards of Education.

The national award is given annually to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.

"Kim Burningham is an eloquent advocate for public education and an indefatigable champion for Utah's schoolchildren," said Brenda Welburn, NASBE executive director.

Burningham has been a leader in education in Utah for nearly two decades, first in the Legislature, and for the past decade as chairman of the Utah State Board of Education.

He led a legal challenge to the state's legislatively mandated private school voucher program and was the foremost campaign advocate for the subsequent statewide voter referendum.