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Pastorek was born in [[Anchorage]], [[Alaska]], prior to statehood, to Rene August Pastorek (1930-1997) of [[New Orleans]] and the former Mary Jane Rogers (1932-2016), a native of Kingsland in Cleveland County, [[Arkansas]]. He was 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; article no longer on-line}}</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 was born in [[Anchorage]], [[Alaska]], prior to statehood, to Rene August Pastorek (1930-1997) of [[New Orleans]] and the former Mary Jane Rogers (1932-2016), a native of Kingsland in Cleveland County, [[Arkansas]]. He was 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; article no longer on-line}}</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; information no longer on-line}}</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; information no longer on-line}}</ref>

Pastorek had a long-term association with the law firm Adams and Reese, based in the New Orleans office of the firm.<ref>"Former Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance - J. Robert Wooley Joins Adams and Reese," Adams and Reese.co, February 20, 2006, accessed June 4, 2014; information no longer on-lin.</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>Paul Pastorek: Biography: Former Louisiana State Superintendent of Education & Member Emeritus," chiefsforchange.org, |publisher=chiefsforchange.org, accessed June 4, 2014; information no longer on-line}}</ref>

He and his wife, Kathleen S. Pastorek, have three grown children, Ryan Paul Pastorek, Jeffrey Thomas Pastorek, and Kaitlin Pastorek.<ref name=votesmart/>

He and his wife, Kathleen S. Pastorek, have three grown children, Ryan Paul Pastorek, Jeffrey Thomas Pastorek, and Kaitlin Pastorek.<ref name=votesmart/>