Rod Paige, born in 1933, secretary of education during the first term of President George W. Bush. As secretary of education, Paige oversaw the Department of Education. He was the first African American to be named to the post after Bush took office in 2001. Paige resigned his position in 2004, and his resignation became effective in 2005.

Roderick Raynor Paige was born in Monticello, Mississippi. He attended Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, on an athletic scholarship in football, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1955. He received a master’s degree from Indiana University in 1962 and then became head football coach at Jackson State University. In 1970 he received a doctoral degree in physical education from Indiana University. In 1971 Paige became the head football coach at Texas Southern University (TSU). He also served as athletic director and professor of health and physical education at TSU.

In 1984 Paige became the dean of the school of education at TSU. In 1989 he was elected to the school board of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest school district in Texas. The school board appointed Paige superintendent of the HISD in 1994. As superintendent, Paige was credited with improving academic achievement and decreasing violence in the Houston district. He served as superintendent until he became secretary of education in 2001.

Paige’s term as secretary of education was notable for his promotion of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind legislation. He became a controversial figure toward the end of his term when he called the National Education Association a “terrorist organization.” He later apologized.