Roderick Raynor Paige (born June 17, 1933) served as the 7th United States Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005.

Paige served as interim president of his alma mater, Jackson State University, from November 2016 to June 2017.

From 1964 to 1968, Paige served as head football coach at Jackson State University, compiling a record of 25–19–2.

At Jackson State, he recruited and coached Lem Barney who later played for the Detroit Lions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As a trustee and an officer of the Board of Education of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) from 1989 to 1994, Paige coauthored the board's 'A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions', a statement of purpose and goals for the school district that called for fundamental reform through decentralization, a focus on instruction, accountability at all levels, and development of a core curriculum.

Paige's board of education began that effort to provide better school safety, and the HISD police department remains the only school district police department in the country to earn accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

He started a system of charter schools that have broad authority in decisions regarding staffing, textbooks, and materials.

He saw to it that HISD paid teachers salaries competitive with those offered by other large Texas school districts.

[9] Many touted the "Houston Miracle" accomplished under Paige where student test scores rose under his leadership.

The Bush White House's development of the principles of No Child Left Behind drew in part on the successes of the Houston Independent School District under Paige.