Rod Paige facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rod Paige
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Official portrait, c. 2004
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| 7th United States Secretary of Education | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Deputy | William D. Hansen Eugene W. Hickok |
| Preceded by | Richard Riley |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Spellings |
| Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District | |
| In office 1994–2001 |
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| Preceded by | Yvonne Gonzales (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kaye Stripling (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Roderick Raynor Paige
June 17, 1933 Monticello, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | December 9, 2025 (aged 92) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Gloria Crawford
(m. 1956; div. 1982)Stephanie Nellons
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Service years | 1955–1957 |
| Coaching career | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1964–1968 | Jackson State |
| 1971–1975 | Texas Southern |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1971–1980 | Texas Southern |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 52–40–5 |
Roderick Raynor Paige (born June 17, 1933, died December 9, 2025) was an important American educator and politician. He served as the 7th United States Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush. He was the first African American to hold this important position. During his time as Secretary of Education, he helped create and pass the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, a major law about schools.
Before working in Washington D.C., Mr. Paige grew up in Mississippi. He was a successful football coach for college teams like the Jackson State Tigers and the Texas Southern Tigers. He also worked as a college dean at Texas Southern University. From 1994 to 2001, he was the Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest school districts in the United States. After leaving the Education Department, he later served as the interim president of Jackson State University from 2016 to 2017.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Roderick Raynor Paige was born on June 17, 1933, in Monticello, Mississippi. His parents were both teachers, which likely inspired his own path in education. He went to Jackson State University in Mississippi, where he earned his first college degree. Later, he continued his studies at Indiana University Bloomington. There, he earned two more advanced degrees, including a doctorate in Physical Education. Mr. Paige also served his country in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957.
Mr. Paige's Career Journey
Early Coaching and Teaching
After serving in the Navy, Mr. Paige began his career as a teacher and coach in Mississippi. From 1957 to 1963, he taught health and physical education. He also coached football at Hinds Agricultural High School and Utica Junior College. Later, he became the head football coach at Jackson State University from 1964 to 1968. He even coached Lem Barney, who became a famous player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From 1971 to 1975, Mr. Paige coached football at Texas Southern University. He also served as the university's athletic director until 1980.
Leadership in Houston Education
Mr. Paige moved to Houston in the 1970s. He taught at Texas Southern University from 1980 to 1984. In 1984, he became the Dean of the College of Education, a role he held for ten years. He also created a special research center there. This center focused on improving schools in cities.
From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Paige was a leader on the Board of Education for the Houston Independent School District (HISD). He helped write a plan called 'A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions'. This plan aimed to make schools better by giving more power to individual schools. It also focused on improving teaching and holding everyone accountable. To make schools safer, Mr. Paige helped start a police department for HISD. This police department was special because it was accredited, meaning it met high professional standards.
Superintendent of HISD
In 1994, Mr. Paige became the Superintendent of HISD. This meant he was in charge of all the schools in the district. As superintendent, he started new programs to improve school services. He also created charter schools, which are public schools that have more freedom in how they operate. Mr. Paige worked to make sure teachers in HISD were paid well. He also introduced a system where teachers could earn extra pay for helping students improve their test scores. Under his leadership, student test scores in Houston schools often improved.
U.S. Secretary of Education
In January 2001, Mr. Paige was chosen to be the U.S. Secretary of Education. The U.S. Senate approved his appointment, and he joined President George W. Bush's team. He was the first person who had been a school superintendent to become Education Secretary. He was also the first African American to hold this important cabinet position.
No Child Left Behind Act
As Secretary, Mr. Paige played a key role in developing the No Child Left Behind Act. This important law, passed in 2002, set new standards for schools across the country. It aimed to make sure all students received a good education. The ideas for this law were partly inspired by the improvements Mr. Paige had made in the Houston school district. His department also received high marks for its financial management during his time.
Mr. Paige was with President Bush at a school in Florida on September 11, 2001. This was when they received the news about the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center.
Changes to Education Rules
Mr. Paige also suggested changes to rules about Title IX. These changes allowed schools to offer single-sex classes or schools more easily. This gave educators more choices in how they organized learning environments.
Resignation
After four years of leading the nation's education efforts, Mr. Paige announced his resignation on November 15, 2004. Margaret Spellings was chosen to take his place.
Other Important Work
Mr. Paige was involved in many other important groups. He served on committees for the Texas Education Agency. He also helped with a task force focused on high school education. He was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an organization that works for civil rights. He also helped with groups focused on job training and business and education partnerships. Later in his life, he returned to his old university, Jackson State University, to serve as its interim president from 2016 to 2017.
Family Life and Passing
Mr. Paige was married to Gloria Crawford for many years, and they had a son named Roderick Jr. Later, he married Stephanie D. Nellons in 2009. He became a stepfather to her daughter, Danielle. Roderick Raynor Paige passed away peacefully at his home in Houston on December 9, 2025, at the age of 92.
Honors and Recognitions
Mr. Paige received many honors for his work. Two schools were renamed in his honor:
- James Bowie Elementary School in Houston became Roderick R. Paige Elementary School.
- Monticello Junior High School in his hometown became Rod Paige Middle School.
He also received special honorary degrees from the University of Houston in 2000 and Indiana University Bloomington in 2017. Indiana University also gave him a Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2013.
See also
