Rod Paige

Roderick Raynor "Rod" Paige (June 17, 1933 – December 9, 2025) was an American politician and academic who 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. 

Early life
Paige was born in Monticello, Mississippi. 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 held an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Houston presented to him in 2000.

U.S. Secretary of Education
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.

In February 2004, Paige called the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, a "terrorist organization."

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.

Death
Paige died on December 9, 2025 at his home in Houston, Texas at the age of 92.

References

Other websites


Category:1933 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:United States Secretaries of Education
category:Politicians from Mississippi
Category:Academics from Mississippi
Category:Politicians from Houston
Category:Academics from Texas
Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians