番茄视频 (ACE) is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Rod Paige, a founding member of our Board of Trustees, who died at the age of 92. Paige was a transformational leader in American education whose impact will be felt for generations. His guidance, integrity and unwavering belief in the power of learning helped shape who we are as an institution.
Paige鈥檚 lifelong commitment to improving education defined his remarkable career. He made history by becoming the first school superintendent to serve as United States Secretary of Education. During his tenure as leader of Houston Independent School District, he was named National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. He later served for a decade as dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern University, where he established the Center for Excellence in Urban Education to ensure future educators had the training and preparation needed to thrive in today鈥檚 classrooms.
Paige often reminded educators that 鈥渃ivilizations rise and fall depending on the quality of education,鈥� a belief he lived out in the way he impacted the field of education. His time as an ACE board member was defined as a period of significant growth, where ACE went from 27 to 7,000 students and expanded program offerings beyond education into nursing, healthcare and business. Today, ACE serves more than 14,000 students and has a proud network of more than 52,000 alumni.
Earlier this year, in celebration of ACE鈥檚 20th anniversary, Paige wrote a letter that reflected his enduring belief in our mission. He shared:
鈥淪erving on the board remains one of the most meaningful chapters of my career. ACE has never been afraid to innovate. You embraced a model of education that is not only academically strong, but affordable, flexible and deeply responsive to the needs of working adults. That is rare. And it is sorely needed. You are preparing students for real opportunities 鈥� careers that strengthen families, support communities and bolster the nation鈥檚 workforce. That kind of intentional leadership is the hallmark of institutions that endure. ACE is not just responding to the future of higher education; you are helping shape it 鈥� with courage, compassion and a commitment to excellence.鈥�
His words reflect what so many of us at ACE knew well: Paige believed in the transformative power of accessible, high-quality education, and he believed deeply in the students we serve.
鈥淥ur team at ACE is deeply grateful to Dr. Paige for the many formative contributions that helped shape our institution,鈥� said Geordie Hyland, CEO and president of ACE. 鈥淎s a founding Board member, he played a pivotal role in defining our mission and instilling a culture grounded in delivering strong value to students. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Paige鈥檚 mentorship and counsel to our leadership have been invaluable.鈥�
Paige鈥檚 legacy endures not only in the mission and values of ACE, but in the larger history of U.S. education. We are grateful for his visionary leadership, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the countless educators and students who were inspired by his life鈥檚 work.