Rod Paige, the first African American U.S. secretary of education, dies at 92

Rod Paige, the first African American to lead the U.S. Department of Education, died Tuesday at age 92. Former President George W. Bush, who appointed Paige in 2001, confirmed his passing in a statement.

Driving National Reform

Paige oversaw the launch of No Child Left Behind, Bush’s signature education law enacted in 2002. The policy, rooted in Paige’s Houston reforms, introduced nationwide testing standards and penalties for schools that failed to meet goals.

Rod Paige: From Mississippi Roots to Coaching Success

Born in Monticello, Mississippi, Paige was the eldest of five children in a family of teachers. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he became a football coach at Jackson State University. In 1967, his team integrated Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, marking a milestone in state history.

Shaping Houston Schools

Paige later moved to Houston, where he coached at Texas Southern University before shifting into education administration. By 1984, he became dean of Texas Southern’s college of education. A decade later, he rose to superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, one of the nation’s largest. His reforms drew praise across Texas and helped shape Bush’s presidential campaign message.

Rod Paige: National Leadership and Legacy

As secretary from 2001 to 2005, Paige championed high expectations for all students. “Expecting them to achieve, and then supporting them in their efforts to achieve,” he told the Washington Post, describing his philosophy.

Supporters credited No Child Left Behind with raising standards across race and income. Critics argued the law encouraged excessive testing and narrowed classroom instruction. In 2015, Congress scaled back many provisions, and President Barack Obama signed a new education law reducing federal oversight.

Rod Paige Returned to Jackson State

After leaving Washington, Paige returned to Jackson State University. In 2016, at age 83, he served as interim president, closing a career that spanned coaching, administration, and national leadership.