Rod Paige, the first African American U.S. education secretary, passed away at 92. Appointed by former President George W. Bush, Paige was instrumental in implementing the No Child Left Behind law, which established universal testing standards. Born in Mississippi, he transitioned from a football coach to an influential educator, serving as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District before his federal role. Paige continued to advocate for educational reform even into his 90s, emphasizing high expectations for all students.
