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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder |name=Paul Gregg Pastorek |office=[ Louisiana]] Superintendent of Education |term_start=March 2007 |term_end=May 2011 |preceded=Cecil J. Picard |su..."
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Paul Gregg Pastorek
|office=[ Louisiana]] Superintendent of Education
|term_start=March 2007
|term_end=May 2011
|preceded=[[Cecil J. Picard]]
|succeeded=Ollie Tyler (interim)
|birth_date=June 27, 1954
|birth_place=[[New Orleans]], Louisiana
|spouse=Kathleen "Kathy" S. Pastorek
|children=Ryan Paul Pastorek<br>
Jeffrey Thomas Pastorek<br>
Kaitlin Pastorek
|alma_mater=De La Salle High School (New Orleans)<br>
Loyola University New Orleans<br>
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
|residence=New Orleans, Louisiana
Formerly:Ashburn, Loudoun County, [[Virginia]]
|occupation=[[Attorney]]<br>
Education and defense specialist
}}
'''Paul Gregg Pastorek''' (born June 27, 1954)<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/paul-pastorek/e651738020328|title=Paul Pastorek|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> is an [[attorney]] who was from 2007 to 2011 the state superintendent of education, based in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]. He was appointed to the position by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), of which he had been one of three appointed members from 1996 to 2004. BESE sets and monitors state education policy.
==Background==
Pastorek was born and reared in [[New Orleans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.edweek.org/chat/2007/08/20/transcript_08_20_2007.html|title=New Orleans Public Schools: Recovery & Reform, August 20, 2007|publisher=''Education Week''|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref> where he graduated from De La Salle High School, Loyola University, and the Loyola College of Law and was admitted to practice law in 1979.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/72973/paul-pastorek#.U49z0stOUfg|title=Paul Pastorek's Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref>
Pastorek had a long-term association with the law firm Adams and Reese, based in the New Orleans office of the firm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adamsandreese.com/former-louisiana-commissioner-of-insurance---j-robert-wooley-joins-adams-and-reese-02-20-2006/|title=Former Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance - J. Robert Wooley Joins Adams and Reese|date=February 20, 2006|publisher=adamsandreese.com|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref> From 2002 to 2004, he was the general counsel to the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]], a position to which he was appointed by [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]]. At NASA, he was an advisor to the then administrator, Sean O'Keefe. In 2004, Pastorek was instrumental in directing the team which developed NASA's reorganization plan. There he received NASA's Exceptional Achievement and Distinguished Service medals.<ref name=lpb/>In 2004, he left NASA and formed Next Horizon, a statewide [[non-profit organization]] and think tank on educational issues based in Baton Rouge.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://chiefsforchange.org/members/paul-pastorek/#sthash.MKgPcEvw.dpuf|title=Paul Pastorek: Biography: Former Louisiana State Superintendent of Education & Member Emeritus|publisher=chiefsforchange.org|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
He and his wife, Kathleen S. Pastorek, who reside in [[Ashburn, Virginia|Ashburn]], Virginia, have three grown children, Ryan Paul Pastorek, Jeffrey Thomas Pastorek, and Kaitlin Pastorek.<ref name=votesmart/>
==Educational matters==
Pastorek was appointed in 1996 to BESE - eight other members are elected by districts - by the incoming [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy James
"Mike" Foster, Jr.]]<ref name=lpb>{{cite web|url=http://beta.lpb.org/index.php/publicsquare/lps_bio/paul_pastorek|title=Paul Pastorek
Louisiana’s State Superintendent of Education|publisher=beta.lpb.org|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref> From 2001 to 2004, Pastorek was the BESE president, chosen by his ten colleagues.<ref name=bio/>
As education superintendent, Pastorek worked to establish more [[charter schools]], to increase private funding in education, and to strengthen school accountability with the goal of a reduced dropout rate and greater academic achievement. The state legislature]] in 2003 created the Recovery School District to assume control of those schools deemed academic failures for four consecutive years. In New Orleans, 107 of the lowest-performing public schools were placed under the RSD umbrella in the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. Pastorek drew criticism for his educational reforms from local school boards, state legislators, and teacher's unions, many of whom claimed that he lacked interest in their concerns about educational policies.<ref name=pastorekresigns/>
Pastorek resigned as superintendent to become chief counsel and corporate secretary for the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company), since renamed Airbus Group, Inc. The defense contractor firm is headed by Sean O'Keefe, the former chancellor of [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge and the former NASA director, with whom Pastorek had earlier been a colleague. Airbus headquarters are outside [[Washington, D.C.]], in Herndon, [[Virginia]], with a second location in Ashburn in Loudoun County, where Pastorek resided while in that job.<ref name=pastorekresigns>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2011/05/paul_pastorek_resigns_as_school_superintendent_in_louisiana.html|author=Sean Cavanaugh|title= Paul Pastorek Resigns as School Superintendent in Louisiana|date=May 11, 2014|publisher=blogs.edweek.org|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
In 2013, Pastorek came to the defense of later superintendent [[John White]], who implemented the failed [[Common Core]] program in Louisiana despite reservations from various groups who fear federal intervention. At a conference in Washington, D.C., Pastorek said that the plan was originally proposed by state superintendents from across the nation, not by the [[United States Department of Education]]. Common Core, he said, is not a matter of indoctrination of school children in [[liberal]] politics but in establishing needed standards and achievement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/news/7450122-123/pastorek-common-core-criticism-no|author=Will Sentel|title=Pastorek: Common Core criticism no surprise|date=October 31, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pastorek, Paul}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]
|name=Paul Gregg Pastorek
|office=[ Louisiana]] Superintendent of Education
|term_start=March 2007
|term_end=May 2011
|preceded=[[Cecil J. Picard]]
|succeeded=Ollie Tyler (interim)
|birth_date=June 27, 1954
|birth_place=[[New Orleans]], Louisiana
|spouse=Kathleen "Kathy" S. Pastorek
|children=Ryan Paul Pastorek<br>
Jeffrey Thomas Pastorek<br>
Kaitlin Pastorek
|alma_mater=De La Salle High School (New Orleans)<br>
Loyola University New Orleans<br>
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
|residence=New Orleans, Louisiana
Formerly:Ashburn, Loudoun County, [[Virginia]]
|occupation=[[Attorney]]<br>
Education and defense specialist
}}
'''Paul Gregg Pastorek''' (born June 27, 1954)<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/paul-pastorek/e651738020328|title=Paul Pastorek|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref> is an [[attorney]] who was from 2007 to 2011 the state superintendent of education, based in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]. He was appointed to the position by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), of which he had been one of three appointed members from 1996 to 2004. BESE sets and monitors state education policy.
==Background==
Pastorek was born and reared in [[New Orleans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.edweek.org/chat/2007/08/20/transcript_08_20_2007.html|title=New Orleans Public Schools: Recovery & Reform, August 20, 2007|publisher=''Education Week''|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref> where he graduated from De La Salle High School, Loyola University, and the Loyola College of Law and was admitted to practice law in 1979.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/72973/paul-pastorek#.U49z0stOUfg|title=Paul Pastorek's Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 27, 2020}}</ref>
Pastorek had a long-term association with the law firm Adams and Reese, based in the New Orleans office of the firm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adamsandreese.com/former-louisiana-commissioner-of-insurance---j-robert-wooley-joins-adams-and-reese-02-20-2006/|title=Former Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance - J. Robert Wooley Joins Adams and Reese|date=February 20, 2006|publisher=adamsandreese.com|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref> From 2002 to 2004, he was the general counsel to the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]], a position to which he was appointed by [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]]. At NASA, he was an advisor to the then administrator, Sean O'Keefe. In 2004, Pastorek was instrumental in directing the team which developed NASA's reorganization plan. There he received NASA's Exceptional Achievement and Distinguished Service medals.<ref name=lpb/>In 2004, he left NASA and formed Next Horizon, a statewide [[non-profit organization]] and think tank on educational issues based in Baton Rouge.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://chiefsforchange.org/members/paul-pastorek/#sthash.MKgPcEvw.dpuf|title=Paul Pastorek: Biography: Former Louisiana State Superintendent of Education & Member Emeritus|publisher=chiefsforchange.org|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
He and his wife, Kathleen S. Pastorek, who reside in [[Ashburn, Virginia|Ashburn]], Virginia, have three grown children, Ryan Paul Pastorek, Jeffrey Thomas Pastorek, and Kaitlin Pastorek.<ref name=votesmart/>
==Educational matters==
Pastorek was appointed in 1996 to BESE - eight other members are elected by districts - by the incoming [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy James
"Mike" Foster, Jr.]]<ref name=lpb>{{cite web|url=http://beta.lpb.org/index.php/publicsquare/lps_bio/paul_pastorek|title=Paul Pastorek
Louisiana’s State Superintendent of Education|publisher=beta.lpb.org|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref> From 2001 to 2004, Pastorek was the BESE president, chosen by his ten colleagues.<ref name=bio/>
As education superintendent, Pastorek worked to establish more [[charter schools]], to increase private funding in education, and to strengthen school accountability with the goal of a reduced dropout rate and greater academic achievement. The state legislature]] in 2003 created the Recovery School District to assume control of those schools deemed academic failures for four consecutive years. In New Orleans, 107 of the lowest-performing public schools were placed under the RSD umbrella in the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. Pastorek drew criticism for his educational reforms from local school boards, state legislators, and teacher's unions, many of whom claimed that he lacked interest in their concerns about educational policies.<ref name=pastorekresigns/>
Pastorek resigned as superintendent to become chief counsel and corporate secretary for the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company), since renamed Airbus Group, Inc. The defense contractor firm is headed by Sean O'Keefe, the former chancellor of [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge and the former NASA director, with whom Pastorek had earlier been a colleague. Airbus headquarters are outside [[Washington, D.C.]], in Herndon, [[Virginia]], with a second location in Ashburn in Loudoun County, where Pastorek resided while in that job.<ref name=pastorekresigns>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2011/05/paul_pastorek_resigns_as_school_superintendent_in_louisiana.html|author=Sean Cavanaugh|title= Paul Pastorek Resigns as School Superintendent in Louisiana|date=May 11, 2014|publisher=blogs.edweek.org|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
In 2013, Pastorek came to the defense of later superintendent [[John White]], who implemented the failed [[Common Core]] program in Louisiana despite reservations from various groups who fear federal intervention. At a conference in Washington, D.C., Pastorek said that the plan was originally proposed by state superintendents from across the nation, not by the [[United States Department of Education]]. Common Core, he said, is not a matter of indoctrination of school children in [[liberal]] politics but in establishing needed standards and achievement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/news/7450122-123/pastorek-common-core-criticism-no|author=Will Sentel|title=Pastorek: Common Core criticism no surprise|date=October 31, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pastorek, Paul}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]