Education Secretary Rod Paige intends to leave job, official says

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/11/12/national1541EST0630.DTL

Rod Paige, who rose from racial segregation to become the nation's first black education secretary, intends to leave his Cabinet position, an administration official told The Associated Press Friday.

"The secretary has been looking at leaving, and he's been in discussion with the White House about the right time to do so," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A Texan like Bush, Paige, 71, came to prominence as an award-winning superintendent in Houston before becoming secretary in a time of huge change in federal education policy. An outspoken defender of demanding more from schools, he has been the public face behind No Child Left Behind, the law at the center of Bush's domestic agenda.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan declined to speculate about the Cabinet position.

Paige would be the third member of the Bush Cabinet to make plans to leave since the president won a second term. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Don Evans also are departing.

Paige has not formally handed in his resignation, according to the official, who has talked to Paige about his plans.

The administration official said Paige is content to move on after overseeing Bush's education agenda for four years. The official declined to be identified because Paige has yet to resign.

A leading candidate to replace Paige is Margaret Spellings, Bush's domestic policy adviser who helped shape his school agenda when he was the Texas governor. Spellings has a keen interest in schools and may want the Cabinet-level education job.

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My thoughts:
There has been a rumor going around the campus of Indiana University this week that IU President Adam Herbert is being considered for a position in the Dept. of Ed. The buzz was that it was not the top slot, but this was before anyone knew Paige (who is an IU alumnus) was stepping down. Anything but the top spot would be a step down for Herbert, and I would be surprised if he takes it, but this could be an indication that Paige's job will go to Eugene Hickok, the deputy education secretary, or Raymond Simon, assistant secretary over elementary & secondary education.

Give us the scoop!

I've met Adam Herbert. He is a real "people person" and a big improvement over our last IU President in that regard. He is well-liked here, but has only been on the job for one year. He has Florida ties -- his last job was as administrator over the entire state university system in Fla.

But again, if there was any truth in the rumor I've heard, he is up for a deputy spot. Which makes me think that Paige's job may go to one of the current undersecretaries. Might go to Margaret Spellings though, another Bush cronie from Texas.

They're all Republicans... so there 'ya go. I suppose it comes down to who gave more money to the Bush re-election coffers and I am gonna lose my job, aren't I?

Limit how many old drinkin' buddies a President can appoint.