U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced that President Bush intends to designate Under Secretary of Education Gene Hickok to be acting deputy secretary of education.

The deputy secretary is a key member of the secretary's executive team and serves as a principal policy advisor to Secretary Paige on all major program and management issues, including the historic No Child Left Behind Act.

Regarding the appointment, Secretary Paige said, "Gene's leadership and commitment to our nation's children have been critical to our success with implementing No Child Left Behind. His unique perspective as a former state education chief, professor and school board member have combined to make him an outstanding asset to the department. He is a trusted advisor to me and I am pleased he has agreed to take on this added responsibility as we continue our work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a high quality public education."

As under secretary, Dr. Hickok is responsible for oversight of policy development, recommendations and initiatives that help define a broad, coherent vision for achieving President Bush's education priorities, including No Child Left Behind.

Dr. Hickok will serve in the acting capacity until President Bush nominates, and the Senate confirms, a deputy secretary of education.

Since March, Dr. Hickok has served as both under secretary of education and acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education.

Dr. Hickok was confirmed as under secretary of education in July 2001. Prior to this appointment, he served six years as secretary of education in the administration of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. Prior to this, he was a political science professor at Dickinson College and the founding director of Dickinson's Clarke Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Contemporary Issues.

Dr. Hickok earned his bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney College and his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

###

Top

Back to July 2003