Former Sec. of Ed. Rod Paige to Lecture at Texas Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact person: Rev. Kyev Tatum at 817-829-5455

TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS—Rod Paige, the former Secretary of Education (2001-2005) under President George W. Bush, will speak at Everman High School, Tarrant County College South Campus, and The University of Texas at Arlington on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. Dr. Paige's lectures are entitled "Help Our People Excel" in which he will encourage local educators, parents and students to continue to pursue excellence in education.

On January 21, 2001, the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Rod Paige as the 7th U.S. Secretary of Education. For Paige, the son of a principal and a school librarian, that day was the crowning achievement of a long career in education. Born in 1933 in segregated Mississippi, Paige's accomplishments speak of his commitment to education. He earned a bachelor's degree from Jackson State University and both a master's and a doctoral degree from Indiana University.

Paige is the first school superintendent ever to serve as Secretary of Education. His experience as a practitioner—from the blackboard to the boardroom—paid off during the long hours of work needed to pass President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The driving force behind his work as Secretary was his belief that education is a civil right, just like the right to vote or to be treated equally.

Paige's visit to the area is part of his Texas Hope Tour, sponsored by the Ministers for Education of America. "We are honored and humbled to host an American Hero in our community," said, the Rev. Kyev Tatum Sr., President of Ministers for Education of America. "Dr. Paige will go down in history as a leader who helped to change the course of history in education for years to come," Rev. Tatum said.

All lectures are free and open to the public. Dr. Paige tour will begin at Joe C. Bean Everman High School at 1000 S. Race Street in Everman, Texas at 9:00 a.m. and at Tarrant County College-South Campus at 5301 South Campus Drive in Fort Worth at 1:00 p.m.

The UTA event will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in the sixth floor parlor of the Central Library, 702 Planetarium Place.

For media opportunities, contact Rev. Kyev Tatum at 817-829-5455.


9:00 A.M.
JOE C. BEAN
EVERMAN HIGH SCHOOL
1000 S. Race Street
Everman, Texas 76140
Mr. Cutis Amos
817-568-3552

1:00 P.M.
TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE-ROTUNDA
5301 S. Campus Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76134
Mr. Zeb Strong
817-515-4206

7:00 P.M.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AT ARLINGTON LIBRARY
701 Nedderman Drive
Arlington, Texas 76019
Mr. Daniel Woodward
817-272-2101