Senate Concurrent Resolution 509

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SINCEREST SYMPATHY OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE ON THE PASSING OF MISSISSIPPI NATIVE DR. ROD PAIGE, THE NATION'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO SERVE AS UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY AND LEGACY.

WHEREAS, Dr. Rod Paige, an educator, coach, and administrator who initiated the nation's landmark No Child Left Behind law as the first African American to serve as United States Education Secretary, passed away on December 9, 2025. Former President George W. Bush, who appointed Dr. Paige for the nation's top federal education post, announced the death. Paige was ninety-two; and

WHEREAS, under Paige's leadership, the Department of Education implemented the No Child Left Behind policy that in 2002 became Bush's signature education law and was modeled on Paige's previous work as a school superintendent in Houston, Texas. The law established universal testing standards and sanctioned schools that failed to meet certain benchmarks. "Rod was a leader and a friend," Bush said in his statement. "Unsatisfied with the status quo, he challenged what we called 'the soft bigotry of low expectations.' Rod worked hard to make sure that where a child was born didn't determine whether they could succeed in school and beyond"; and

WHEREAS, Roderick R. Paige was born to two teachers in the small Mississippi town of Monticello. The oldest of five siblings, Paige served a two-year stint the U.S. Navy before becoming a football coach at the high school and then junior college levels. Within years, Paige rose to head coach of Jackson State University, his alma mater and a historically black college in the Mississippi capital city. With a 1967 football game, his team became the first to integrate Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, once an all-white venue; and

WHEREAS, after moving to Houston in the mid-1970s to become head coach of Texas Southern University, Paige pivoted from the playing field to the classroom and education, first as a teacher, then as an administrator, and eventually, the dean of its college of education from 1984 to 1994. Amid growing public recognition of his pursuit of educational excellence, Paige rose to become superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, then one of the largest school districts in the country. He quickly drew the attention of Texas' most powerful politicians for his sweeping educational reforms in the diverse Texas city. Most notably, he moved to implement stricter metrics for student outcomes, a strategy that became a central point for Bush's 2000s bid for president. Bush frequently praised Paige on the campaign trail for the Houston reforms he called the "Texas Miracle." Once Bush won the election, he tapped Paige to be the nation's top education official; and

WHEREAS, Paige was the first school superintendent to serve as Secretary of Education. The driving force behind his work as Secretary was his shared belief with President Bush that education is a civil right, just like the right to vote or to be treated equally. Paige believed it is wrong to fight discrimination with discrimination. For that reason, he strongly supported the President's vision of affirmative access that promotes diversity in our nation's colleges and universities through race-neutral alternatives; and

WHEREAS, as Secretary, Paige held the Department of Education to the same high standards expected of our schools. Upon taking office, he learned of wide-scale criminal fraud, waste, and abuse within the department. In response, he made improving management one of his priorities. Paige rallied the department to create the Blueprint for Management Excellence in order to build an organization worthy of the taxpayers' trust and the President's vision, a vision grounded in the belief that good government is not only closer to the people, but also more accountable to the people. The department-wide implementation of the blueprint streamlined operations, and provided strategic direction, resources, and focus for the department's central mission: ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, into his nineties, Dr. Paige still publicly expressed deep concern and optimism about the future of U.S. education; and

WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this most public-spirited professional educator whose dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence in education have made a lasting impact on our state. Today our thoughts and prayers are with Rod Paige's family and friends and the students he represented and served for so many years:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the sincerest sympathy of the Mississippi Legislature on the passing of Mississippi native Dr. Rod Paige, the nation's first African American to serve as United States Secretary of Education and pay tribute to his memory and legacy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the surviving family of Dr. Paige, transmitted to the United States Secretary of Education, and President of Jackson State University, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.