Margaret Spellings
Margaret Spellings
Full Name and Common Aliases
Margaret Spellings is a renowned American educator and government official who has made significant contributions to the field of education policy. She is often referred to by her maiden name, which was her surname before marriage.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 30, 1957, Margaret Spellings has been active in various capacities throughout her life, leaving a lasting impact on the world of education. Unfortunately, she is still alive as of my knowledge cutoff, but I will provide accurate information up to that point.
Nationality and Profession(s)
As an American national, Margaret Spellings has worked in multiple roles within government agencies and private organizations. Her primary profession is that of a public servant and educator.
Early Life and Background
Margaret Spellings was born and raised in Ohio. Growing up, she developed a strong interest in education, which would eventually become her lifelong passion. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Regis College (now Regis University) and later completed her Master's degree at Virginia Tech.
Major Accomplishments
As a dedicated educator and government official, Margaret Spellings has achieved numerous milestones throughout her career:
U.S. Secretary of Education: In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed Spellings to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Education. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in shaping education policy and implementing key initiatives such as No Child Left Behind.
President of North Carolina State University System: After leaving her position as Secretary, Spellings became the president of the North Carolina State University System, where she focused on improving student outcomes and enhancing academic programs.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works and actions associated with Margaret Spellings include:
Authoring reports on education: Spellings has written several influential reports on education policy, including "The President's Commission on the Future of Higher Education" (2006) and "Raising Student Achievement in Urban High Schools" (2010).
Speaking engagements and media appearances: As a prominent figure in education, Spellings regularly participates in conferences, interviews, and panel discussions to share her expertise and insights with audiences worldwide.
Impact and Legacy
Margaret Spellings' contributions to education policy have had far-reaching consequences:
Shaping national education policies: Her work as Secretary of Education helped inform the development of key federal initiatives like No Child Left Behind.
Advancing higher education reform: As president of the North Carolina State University System, Spellings drove efforts to improve student success rates and strengthen academic programs.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Margaret Spellings is widely quoted and remembered due to her:
Expertise in education policy: Her extensive experience and research have established her as a leading authority on education issues.
Influence on national and state-level policies: As a former Secretary of Education, she has had a lasting impact on the education landscape.
Quotes by Margaret Spellings
And I think that we in America need to understand that many schools need improvement, and particularly with respect to how they’re serving minority children.
But the other notion is, we also believe that those folks closest on the ground that we’re holding accountable for the results can decide, and ought to evaluate which programs get results.
We at the Department of Education are going to provide technical assistance; I’ve committed $14 million to show states how they might meet this more sophisticated approach.
My understanding is that Kansas, Massachusetts, they’ve been more pioneers on the special education side.
I think it’d be useful for parents to know kind of what is the culture of an institution.
In Connecticut, my understanding, although I haven’t seen the actual litigation, is that they want to measure every other year and not provide annual assessment as is required in the statute.
And I believe that public broadcasting has an important trust with the American people, it’s an intimate medium of television, and that we can do reading and language development for young children without getting into human sexuality.
We want to obviously foster a relationship that we’re a partner with states; that we all share the same goals of closing the achievement gap, just as the Congress does; and that we’re practical and sophisticated enough to understand what they’re talking about.
If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you’ve ever got.