U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced today that Eric Andell will serve as special counsel to the secretary at the Department of Education.

As special counsel to the secretary, Andell will provide recommendations and guidance on various legal matters that require secretarial or departmental actions.

Prior to joining the Education Department, Andell served the state of Texas as a judge for the 315th District Court and most recently justice for the First Court of Appeals. During his earlier tenure as a juvenile court judge, Andell helped establish High Point High School, one of the earliest high schools committed to serving at risk students that had been expelled from the public school system.

In addition to holding public office, Andell has served as chair of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, chair of "At Risk Students" a program sponsored by the Harris County Education Foundation, and member of the Houston/Harris County Commission on Children.

Eric Andell, a native of Dallas, earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and a juris doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

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