Former U.S. Secretary of Education to Speak at American College of Education’s 2015 Commencement

July 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Former US Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Paige, will speak at American College of Education (http://www.ace.edu/)’s tenth anniversary commencement ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 10, at 2 p.m. at the Civic Opera House, in Chicago, Illinois, home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

“Becoming a master in the field of education takes persistence, patience, and hard work,” said Paige. “It is no small feat to obtain an advanced degree in education, especially given the current state of the field. I am honored to recognize such dedicated educators who took it upon themselves to obtain advanced training and skills so badly needed in our schools today.”

In Paige’s address to the graduating students, he will recount his time working with the Bush administration, acknowledge the hardships that teachers face today, and describe his confidence in the way that American College of Education is preparing teachers to meet the challenges in today’s classrooms. Paige, who served as the seventh U.S. Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005, is a current board member of American College of Education, the leading online graduate degree provider for educators.

As an innovative champion of education reform, Paige led the way in setting new standards of achievement for all students. He spearheaded the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, aiming to reinvigorate America's education system and introduce measures of teacher effectiveness.

In all, more than 1,800 graduates will be awarded a master's degree, in varying disciplines of educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, elementary education, educational technology, and the like. One graduate will earn a specialist degree in education. In addition, the College will recognize graduates who have been certified by the National Board of Certified Teachers.

Graduates and their families will attend the ceremony at the Civic Opera House in Chicago, or virtually through a live streaming of the event. Each student, now a master teacher, received 18 months or more of rigorous instruction to complete his or her degree.

"We are glad to have Dr. Paige as our keynote speaker, because he has a great breadth of knowledge and experience in the field of education," said Dr. Shawntel Landry, provost and interim president of American College of Education. “With more than 10,000 graduates in our alumni network, I feel strongly that he will impart some personal wisdom that they can all take with them throughout their careers.”

American College of Education will also be introducing a mobile application for this year's ceremony, which is now available to download on both Android and Apple devices. The free app provides event information, a map with key locations, bar and restaurant recommendations, speaker information, polls, social media feeds, and more for attendees.

For those who could not attend, video of the ceremony will be available online at www.ace.edu (http://ace.edu/graduation.asp).

About American College of Education
Founded in the digital age, American College of Education (ACE) delivers affordable, online graduate degree programs and professional development programs for educators across the U.S.  American College of Education is dedicated to the belief that educators should have the opportunity to receive advanced degrees affordably, without having to incur substantial debt.  ACE offers opportunities for students to earn degrees from a regionally accredited college that expand their knowledge and aid in the acquisition of new skills and methods from a highly credentialed and experienced faculty. Learn how you can earn your advanced degree at www.ace.edu.