Rod Paige
Roderick Raynor "Rod" Paige (born June 17, 1933), served as the 7th United States Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve as the nation's education chief. He earned a bachelor's degree from Jackson State University in Mississippi and a Master's degree and an Ed.D from Indiana University Bloomington. He also holds an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Houston presented to him in 2000.
Rod Paige | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 7th United 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 the Houston 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 with George W. Bush at the Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, when Bush received the news that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
On November 15, 2004, Paige announced his resignation after overseeing the President's education agenda for four years. White House domestic policy adviser Margaret Spellings was nominated as his successor. The U.S. Senate confirmed her on January 20, 2005 after Bush's inauguration for a second term.