Roderick Raynor Paige(born June 17, 1933) served as the 7thUnited States Secretary of Educationfrom 2001 to 2005. Paige, who grew up inMississippi,moved from college football coach and classroom teacher tocollegedeanand schoolsuperintendentto be thefirst African Americanto serve as the U.S. education chief.
Rod Paige | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 7thUnited States Secretary of Education | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard Riley |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Spellings |
| Superintendent of theHouston Independent School District | |
| In office 1994–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Yvonne Gonzales(interim) |
| Succeeded by | Kaye Stripling(interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 17, 1933 Monticello, Mississippi,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Gloria Crawford
(m.1956–1982)Stephanie Nellons |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Jackson State University(BA) Indiana University Bloomington(MA,EdD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1955–1957 |
Paige was sitting withGeorge W. Bushat theEmma E. Booker Elementary SchoolinSarasota, Florida,when Bush received the news that a second plane had hit theWorld Trade Centerin theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks.
On November 15, 2004, Paige announced his resignation after overseeing the President's education agenda for four years.White Housedomestic policy adviserMargaret Spellingswas nominated as his successor. TheU.S. Senateconfirmed her on January 20, 2005 after Bush's inauguration for a second term.
Paige served as interim president of his alma mater,Jackson State University,from November 2016 to June 2017.[1][2]
Early life and education
editBorn inMonticello,Mississippi,Paige is the son ofpublic schooleducators.[3]He earned abachelor's degreefromJackson State UniversityinJackson, Mississippi.He earned amaster's degreeand aDoctor of Educationdegree inPhysical EducationfromIndiana University Bloomington.[4][3]
Career
editPaige served in theUnited States Navyfrom 1955 to 1957. Subsequently, he taughthealthandphysical educationand coached atHinds Agricultural High Schooland Utica Junior College (nowHinds Community CollegeUtica Campus) in Mississippi, from 1957 to 1963. From 1964 to 1968, Paige served as head football coach atJackson State University,compiling a record of 25–19–2. At Jackson State, he recruited and coachedLem Barneywho later played for theDetroit Lionsand was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame.[5][6]From 1971 to 1975, Paige served as head football coach atTexas Southern University,and served as the university'sathletic directorfrom 1971 to 1980.[4]
Paige first moved to Houston in the 1970s, settling in theBrentwoodsubdivision. He started a move to excise adumpfrom the edge of the community. TheTexas Supreme Courteventually sided with the residents.[7]Paige taught atTexas Southern Universityfrom 1980 to 1984 and became the Dean of the College of Education in 1984, where he served until 1994. Paige also established the university's Center for Excellence in Urban Education, a research facility that concentrates on issues related to instruction and management in urban school systems.
As a trustee and an officer of the Board of Education of theHouston Independent School District(HISD) from 1989 to 1994, Paige coauthored the board's 'A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions', a statement of purpose and goals for the school district that called for fundamental reform through decentralization, a focus on instruction, accountability at all levels, and development of a corecurriculum.A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions was the catalyst that launched the ongoing, comprehensive restructuring of HISD. As an HISD trustee, Paige launched a municipal-style, accredited police department at HISD with police officers certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education. Paige's board of education began that effort to provide better school safety, and the HISD police department remains the only school district police department in the country to earn accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.[8]
Paige became the superintendent of schools of HISD in 1994. As superintendent, Paige created the Peer Examination, Evaluation, and Redesign (PEER) program, which solicits recommendations from business and community professionals for strengthening school support services and programs. He started a system ofcharter schoolsthat have broad authority in decisions regarding staffing, textbooks, and materials. He saw to it that HISD paid teachers salaries competitive with those offered by other large Texas school districts. Paige made HISD the first school district in the state to institute performance contracts modeled on those in the private sector, whereby senior staff members' continued employment with HISD is based on their performance. He also introduced teacher incentive pay, which rewards teachers for raising test scores.
While he was superintendent, Paige led the district to enter into contracts with private schools to use them to teach some HISD students rather than placing those students into overcrowded public schools. Under Paige HISD contracted with three private schools that were certified by the Texas Education Agency to teach HISD students so their parents did not have to bus them to schools across the city.[9]
Many touted the "Houston Miracle" accomplished under Paige where student test scores rose under his leadership. However, some schools underreported the number of drop-outs during his watch.[10]
Paige served as the Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005 under US PresidentGeorge W. Bush.TheNo Child Left Behindlaw that set new accountability standards nationwide was developed with Paige's help, and it was Paige's Department of Education that implemented the law. The Bush White House's development of the principles of No Child Left Behind drew in part on the successes of the Houston Independent School District under Paige.
Under Paige, the department earned "clean" audits fromErnst and Youngfor three consecutive years. Prior to 2001, the department had achieved only one clean audit in its history, and that audit was by the Department's Office of Inspector General.[11]
Paige proposed amendments to the regulations implementingTitle IXof theEducation Amendments of 1972to provide more flexibility for educators to establish single-sex classes and schools at the elementary and secondary levels.[12][13][14]
Paige once referred to theNational Education Association,the nation's largest teachers union, as a "terrorist organization."[15]
Other activities
editPaige has served on review committees of theTexas Education Agencyand the State Board of Education's Task Force on High School Education, and he has chaired the Youth Employment Issues Subcommittee of theNational Commission for Employment Policyof theU.S. Department of Labor.Paige is a member of the NAACPNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People.He is a former member of theHouston Job Training Partnership Council,theCommunity Advisory Board of Texas Commerce Bank,theAmerican Leadership Forum,and the board of directors of theTexas Business and Education Coalition.He is a member ofPhi Beta Sigmafraternity. He also serves on the board of trustees for the American College of Education.
Honors and awards
editThe Houston Independent School District renamed its James Bowie Elementary School after Paige, to become Rod Paige Elementary School. TheLawrence County School Districtin his hometown of Monticello, Mississippi renamed its middle school Rod Paige Middle School.[16]
TheUniversity of Houstonpresented Paige with an honorary doctoral degree in 2000.[17]Indiana University Bloomington awarded Paige an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2017.[18][19]
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson State Tigers(Southwestern Athletic Conference)(1964–1968) | |||||||||
| 1964 | Jackson State | 6–4 | 4–3 | 3rd | |||||
| 1965 | Jackson State | 5–3–1 | 3–3–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1966 | Jackson State | 5–3–1 | 3–3–1 | T–5th | |||||
| 1967 | Jackson State | 6–3 | 4–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1968 | Jackson State | 3–6 | 1–6 | 7th | |||||
| Jackson State: | 25–19–2 | 15–18–2 | |||||||
| Texas Southern Tigers(Southwestern Athletic Conference)(1971–1975) | |||||||||
| 1971 | Texas Southern | 7–2–1 | 3–2–1 | 4th | |||||
| 1972 | Texas Southern | 5–4–1 | 3–2–1 | 4th | |||||
| 1973 | Texas Southern | 5–5–1 | 2–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1974 | Texas Southern | 6–4 | 3–3 | T–4th | |||||
| 1975 | Texas Southern | 4–6 | 2–4 | 6th | |||||
| Texas Southern: | 27–21–3 | 13–14–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 52–40–5 | ||||||||
See also
edit
References
edit- ^Gates, Jimmie E. (November 1, 2016)."College Board names Rod Paige interim JSU president".The Clarion-Ledger.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^"Investiture Ceremony shows Bynum as faithful, father, friend and trailblazer".Jackson State Newsroom.Jackson, Mississippi.October 15, 2018.RetrievedMay 3,2019.
- ^ab"Rod Paige, Seventh U.S. Education Secretary: Biography and Achievements".Education Week.August 18, 2017.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^abGeorge, Cindy (November 2, 2016)."Houston's Rod Paige named Jackson State's interim president".Houston Chronicle.RetrievedNovember 8,2017– via chron.com.
- ^Hall, Drew (May 6, 2013). "Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney's NFL Debut".Examiner.
- ^Dow, Bill (September 17, 2017)."Lem Barney's meteoric rise with Detroit Lions began 50 years ago today".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^Frey, Jennifer (March 8, 2001)."Bush's School Master".The Washington Post.p. C01.RetrievedOctober 26,2011.
- ^"Seven New Police Sergeants Sworn in at HISD".HoustonISD.org.Houston Independent School District. July 11, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon October 3, 2012.RetrievedOctober 31,2011.
- ^Eggers, William D. "Alternatives House Student Overflow."Bridge Newsat theLakeland Ledger.Friday October 3, 1997. A9. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.
- ^Leung, Rebecca (January 6, 2004)."The 'Texas Miracle'".CBS News.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^"Paige Resigns, Bush Appoints New Education Secretary"(PDF).The Achiever.3(19). US Dept. of Education. December 15, 2004.RetrievedOctober 31,2011.
- ^"Secretary Paige Announces Intent to Provide More Flexibility Regarding Single-Sex Classes and Schools".ED.gov(Press release). US Dept. of Education. May 8, 2002.RetrievedOctober 31,2011.
- ^"Guidelines regarding Single Sex Classes and Schools".Office for Civil Rights.US Dept. of Education.RetrievedOctober 31,2011.
- ^"Department to Provide More Educational Options for Parents".ED.gov(Press release). US Dept. of Education. March 3, 2004.RetrievedOctober 31,2011.
- ^"Education chief calls union 'terrorist' group".The Boston Globe.Associated Press. February 24, 2004.RetrievedOctober 31,2011– via Boston.com.
- ^"Rod Paige Middle School".lawrence.k12.ms.us.Lawrence County, Mississippi:Lawrence County School District.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^"Honorary Degree and President's Medallion Recipients".UH.edu.University of Houston.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^Goodheart, Olivia S. (May 4, 2017)."Paige to receive honorary degree from Indiana University for distinguished career"(Press release). Jackson State University.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.
- ^"Honorary Degrees".IU.edu.Indiana University.RetrievedNovember 8,2017.