U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced that Eugene W. Hickok, of Carlisle, Pa., has been formally sworn in as U.S. Under Secretary of Education.

Hickok previously served as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education. During his tenure, he helped implement a sweeping education reform agenda, including higher standards for students and teachers; a strong accountability system; the creation of charter public schools; stronger reading, literacy and library programs; and a model education technology initiative.

Hickok also served as chairman of the Education Leaders Council, a group of reform-minded education chiefs who oversee 30 percent of the nation's K-12 public school students.

For 15 years, Hickok taught political science at Dickinson College in Carlisle and served as director of the college's Clarke Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Contemporary Issues. He also was an adjunct professor at the Dickinson School of Law. He twice was awarded Dickinson's prestigious Ganoe Award for Inspirational Teaching in 1985 and 1990.

A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia., Hickok received his master's degree in public administration and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

The president formally nominated Hickok on March 30. The Senate confirmed the nomination on July 11.

"I am thrilled that Gene Hickok is officially on board," Paige said. "Gene brings to our team the perspective of a respected state leader. He believes our focus must be on the children, not the system, and together we'll carry out President Bush's agenda and make sure that no child is left behind."

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