Rhee Gone

by Collin Hitt Michelle Rhee has stepped down as head of Washington D.C. Public Schools. Her departure was widely expected after her boss, D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty, was defeated in the city’s mayoral primary election. The new documentary “Waiting for Superman” is making Rhee a household name.  But her bold vision for D.C. schools made...

by Collin Hitt

Michelle Rhee has stepped down as head of Washington D.C. Public Schools. Her departure was widely expected after her boss, D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty, was defeated in the city’s mayoral primary election.

The new documentary “Waiting for Superman” is making Rhee a household name.  But her bold vision for D.C. schools made her a target of the American Federation of Teachers, who poured millions of dollars into Fenty’s opponent’s campaign, with the obvious intent of forcing Rhee out of town.  Rhee is going to land a job somewhere –expect her to be asked on the record about her interest in taking the helm in Chicago after Daley’s appointed schools CEO Ron Huberman leaves office – but don’t expect anyone running for office to campaign on bringing her to town.

The AFT and its affiliates believe they have sent a message in defeating Rhee’s old boss, and they’re right. They would love to do the same to anyone aspiring to hire her, in effect blacklisting Rhee or other reformers like her. A sitting mayor or governor or school board president with sufficient public support can hire Rhee, but it would be an extremely risky move for any facing a close election bid in the immediate future.