Rod Paige, an educator, coach, and administrator who became the first African American to serve as U.S. secretary of education and played a key role in implementing the landmark No Child Left Behind law, died Tuesday at the age of 92. Former President George W. Bush, who appointed Paige to lead the Department of Education, announced his passing, calling him “a leader and a friend” and praising his dedication to ensuring that a child’s background did not determine their academic success.
Born in Monticello, Mississippi, to two teachers, Paige was the oldest of five siblings. He served two years in the U.S. Navy before beginning a coaching career at the high school and junior college levels, eventually becoming head coach at Jackson State University, his alma mater, and a historically Black college. Paige’s team made history in 1967 by participating in the first integrated game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. In the mid-1970s, he moved to Houston to lead Texas Southern University’s football program, later transitioning into education as a teacher, administrator, and ultimately dean of its College of Education from 1984 to 1994.
Paige rose to national prominence as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, implementing stricter student performance metrics that drew attention from Texas political leaders and influenced Bush’s presidential campaign. Appointed U.S. education secretary from 2001 to 2005, Paige championed high expectations for all students and oversaw the rollout of No Child Left Behind, a law aimed at standardizing testing and accountability across U.S. schools. While praised for promoting equal expectations, the law was also criticized for excessive testing and encouraging “teaching to the test.” In 2015, many provisions of the law were rolled back under President Barack Obama, reshaping federal oversight of schools and accountability measures.
After his tenure as secretary, Paige returned to Jackson State University as interim president in 2016. Into his 90s, he remained engaged in education issues, publishing opinion pieces reflecting on lessons from Houston’s school system and advocating for reforms to improve student outcomes nationwide. Paige’s career combined a commitment to high standards, educational equity, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.