Margaret Spellings

Margaret Spellings is an American education policy advisor who served as the eighth United States Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush. Her career has been defined by a focus on standards-based reform, accountability, and the implementation of major federal legislation. Before leading the United States Department of Education, she was a key domestic policy advisor in the White House and held significant roles in Texas state government.

Early life and education

Margaret Dudar was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and grew up in Houston, Texas. She attended Sharpstown High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Her early professional experience included work with the Texas House of Representatives and as associate executive director for the Texas Association of School Boards, where she developed foundational expertise in state-level education governance.

Career in education policy

Spellings first came to prominence as a top education advisor to then-Governor George W. Bush in Austin, Texas. She played a central role in developing the state's accountability and testing system, which became a model for federal policy. Following Bush's election to the presidency, she moved to Washington, D.C., serving as his chief domestic policy advisor. In this White House role, she was instrumental in crafting and advocating for the landmark No Child Left Behind Act, working closely with legislators like Senator Ted Kennedy and Representative John Boehner.

U.S. Secretary of Education

Nominated by President George W. Bush, Spellings was confirmed by the United States Senate and sworn into office in 2005. Her tenure was dominated by implementing and enforcing the No Child Left Behind Act, emphasizing data-driven accountability, annual testing, and closing achievement gaps. She launched the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, which produced the influential "A Test of Leadership" report advocating for reforms in postsecondary education accessibility and affordability. Her department also managed the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, which displaced thousands of college students, and she frequently engaged with organizations like the National Education Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Post-Cabinet career

After leaving the United States Department of Education in 2009, Spellings became president of the University of North Carolina System, overseeing its sixteen campuses, including UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. She later served as president and CEO of Texas 2036, a nonprofit public policy organization. She has held board positions with entities such as the Center for American Progress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Achieve, Inc., and remains a frequent commentator on education issues for media outlets like Fox News and The Wall Street Journal.

Personal life

Spellings was married to attorney Robert Spellings from 1981 until their divorce in 1997; they have two daughters. She is known to be an avid reader and maintains a residence in Austin, Texas. Her contributions to education policy have been recognized with honors including the James Bryant Conant Award from the Education Commission of the States.

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:United States Secretaries of Education Category:University of Houston alumni Category:People from Ann Arbor, Michigan Category:People from Houston Category:Texas Republicans