Rod Paige, Nation’s First African American U.S. Secretary of Education, Dies at 92

Rod Paige, the first African American to serve as the United States secretary of education, has died at the age of 92. Paige, an educator, coach, and school administrator, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at his home in Houston, his family confirmed. 

Paige’s career in education spanned decades, beginning as a football coach at historically Black universities before shifting to teaching and academic leadership. He served as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District from 1994 to 2001, where his reform efforts helped shape national education policy. 

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Paige the seventh U.S. secretary of education, making him the first African American to hold the post. In that role, he was a key architect and implementer of the No Child Left Behind Act, a major federal education reform law aimed at increasing accountability and closing achievement gaps. 

Paige’s leadership drew both praise and criticism; supporters lauded his focus on high standards and accountability, while critics argued some provisions of No Child Left Behind placed undue pressure on schools and educators. 

Former President Bush released a statement mourning Paige’s passing, calling him “a leader and a friend” who fought to ensure that “where a child was born didn’t determine their chances for success.”

Paige is survived by his wife, Stephanie, his children, and a legacy as a trailblazing figure in U.S. education.