Michelle, Ma Belle
Now it's official: Michelle Rhee today announced her resignation as chancellor of the DC public schools.
It was expected, of course -- after her patron, Mayor Fenty, lost the Democratic primary a few weeks ago. A schools chancellor needs the strong backing of the mayor -- especially if she's a chancellor who wants to make a difference. Ms. Rhee realized the backing for what she was doing -- sacking bad teachers, expanding options for parents, measuring student achievement -- was not going to be forthcoming from the presumptive mayor-to-be, Vincent Gray.
Ironically Rhee's departure comes on the heels of the release of Davis Guggenheim's "Waiting for Superman," an indictment of our failing public schools, in which Rhee is one of the heroes. Mr. Guggenheim, the filmmaker who gave us Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," told me that a Rhee departure would be like "turning out the lights during heart surgery."
This is a huge blow for DC schoolchildren, who last year watched as Dick Durbin killed off a popular voucher program. But I wonder. Depending what Rhee does next, it could be that being squeezed out of DC may do more for the cause nationally than her staying. At least it has focussed national attention on the problem with big city public education today: The Empire Always Strikes Back. .
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Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Bill, the woman who will fill in as schools chancellor after Rhee is Kaya Henderson, a close associate and former deputy of Rhee. Do you think that their close professional relationship means that Henderson will continue Rhee's reforms? Or do you think that Rhee truly is irreplaceable?
Aug '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
When I read this, I teared up a little. Honest. That these kids' educational opportunity might be snatched from them when it was just beginning to sprout... it is shameful.
I sincerely hope you're right that
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Emily, I read somewhere in my travels that Rhee is happy for Henderson and that Henderson enjoys a little more personal popularity among the DC education folks than Rhee did, whatever that means and for whatever that's worth.
Bill, wouldn't you just love it if she came to your state and helped Christie/Booker shape up Newark, etc?
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
I wonder if her next move is going to be state or federal ... of course, there's always the none of the above option.
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Emily, I don't think *anyone* is irreplaceable. What I worry is that the conditions that obviously worried Ms. Rhee will apply to Ms. Hendersen. Clearly there's little incentive to make the tough decisions that Ms. Rhee did.
Ursula, I would love it if she came to NJ. I think her boyfriend is in California, however. Maybe something if Whitman won.
Midget-Faded Rattlesnake, I love your comments in general but have a hard time addressing someone with this moniker, feeling it's almost an insult. Go see "Waiting for Superman." That's all I'll say. And then come back here and let us know how it affected you.
Jun '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
It probably won't hurt that Kaya Henderson is an African-American. She may be better able to navigate the racial politics in D.C.
Jun '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Would never read too much into a deputy taking over. First she is a deputy to a firestarter like Rhee, which means part of her role was "making up". Rhee is committed to the kids, and to have a deputy take over is a way to at least protect a few folks. And provides a fig leaf for mayor But in short order DC unions will demand a house cleaning. The only hope is that private money comes in and gets kids to charter schools.
think how much further the zuckerberg gift would go in private world.
Aug '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Bill McGurn:
Midget-Faded Rattlesnake, I love your comments in general but have a hard time addressing someone with this moniker, feeling it's almost an insult.
Call me Midge, then, if you like. Or Midget. (I agree the abbreviation of my initials doesn't work so well, but I hadn't thought of it when I picked my name. And dang it, I like midget faded rattlesnakes: they're cute -- well, at least as long as you don't close enough for them to bite you.)
Or, if you prefer, you can call me by my Latin name, Crotalus oreganus concolor.
Edited on Oct 13, 2010 at 9:39amAug '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Also, I will see "Waiting for Superman" at some point -- though for the foreseeable future I'm taking care of Urgent Family Stuff and so might not make it to a theater anytime soon.
Perhaps more importantly, though, I've made some contacts at the charter and private schools in my area, meaning that once the family dust settles, I could be teaching at one of those places.
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
I hadn't thought about the initials either.
I do think Obama is in danger here. Clinton didn't support vouchers, but charters came in under his watch. Under Bush we had the Opportunity Scholarships. By the end of Obama's term, DC kids will have fewer options and less accountability -- unless some serious action is taken soon.
And he won't be called on it.
May '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Does anyone know? I thought I heard the other day that Michele Rhee is an item with Kevin Johnson, former pro basketballer and presently mayor of Sacramento. Could there be a move to California in the offing? We sure need someone like that.
May '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Bill McGurn:
Midget-Faded Rattlesnake, I love your comments in general but have a hard time addressing someone with this moniker, feeling it's almost an insult.
Call me Midge, then, if you like. Or Midget. (I agree the abbreviation of my initials doesn't work so well, but I hadn't thought of it when I picked my name. And dang it, I like midget faded rattlesnakes: they're cute -- well, at least as long as you don't close enough for them to bite you.)
Or, if you prefer, you can call me by my Latin name, Crotalus oreganus concolor. · Oct 13 at 9:34am
Edited on Oct 13 at 09:39 am
What's wrong with "memorandum for record"? Every procurement office in DoD is loaded with MFR's.
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
Yes, I believe this is true. I think they are due to be married this fall, if I remember correctly.
May '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
She has a Website up today fully Facebooked and Twitterfied. She invites us all to stay-tuned to see what happens next:
http://www.michellerhee.org/content/index
May '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
This video of local reaction to Rhee's resignation pretty much says it all... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/10/13/VI2010101303323.html?hpid=topnews
DC is screwed.
Edited on Oct 13, 2010 at 4:58pmMay '10
Re: Michelle, Ma Belle
That's not the mayor of Sacramento that was involved with the misuse of Americorps funds and the fired IG Walpin, etc., etc. is it?