FORMER U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY ROD PAIGE SPEAKS AT NORTH FOREST

ROD PAIGE

By Gilbert Hoffman, Publisher
NORTH FOREST– Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education, was the featured speaker at last Saturday’s meeting of the North East Education First organization, at Shadydale school auditorium.
Paige brought a message of hope to the group, recalling his own modest beginnings in southern Mississippi, and how a good education and good behavioral upbringing in his home instilled the qualities that eventually brought him to his education post at the White House.
His meaning to North Forest was that they could aspire and succeed also. But the problem is not the students, he said, but the adults. The school system must want a superior educational experience, and know how to achieve it.
To that end, Paige represents a national educational consulting firm, Chartwell, that he co-founded. It specializes in system-wide, district turnaround and restructuring to achieve an effective learning environment.
The meeting was moderated by Robin German Curtis, and opening remarks were made by Jackie Mayhorn, Albert Coleman, and Paula Settles. Also present was Sharon Jacobson, a Houston education consultant working with NEEF.
Notably absent from the meeting were any members of the school board. However, interim superintendent William Jones was present.
In closing remarks, Curtis challenged the community. She said the group wants a quality education, and to keep North Forest ISD independent. No consolidation, no busing. But as Paige asked, “How bad do you want it? North Forest, you have a lot of work ahead of you.”