Changes

As education superintendent, Pastorek worked to establish more [[charter school]]s, 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/>

As education superintendent, Pastorek worked to establish more [[charter school]]s, 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=December 27, 2020}}</ref>  

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|accessdateNovember 26, 2022}}</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>Will Sentell, "Pastorek: Common Core criticism no surprise," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' October 31, 2013.</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>Will Sentell, "Pastorek: Common Core criticism no surprise," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' October 31, 2013.</ref>