Rhee Watch - May 29 - Everything

By Jim Stergios
May 29th, 2008

As impressive as Michelle Rhee’s bold actions have been since she was appointed chancellor of the D.C. schools, it must be remembered that she is there because there is a mayor who wants her — and wants her focused, energetic, and without pause. That mayor is Adrian Fenty, who swept into power with 89 percent of the vote and winning every precinct in the city.

Fenty means business. His first act as mayor was to take total control of the DC Public Schools. Consider the following quotes and items from PBS reports. Fenty on what the city needed in a chancellor of the public schools:

What this city needed was a change agent, a fresh face, someone who knew the city and urban school systems, but someone who was not tied to the past or who thought that things could never be excellent.

Rhee warned Fenty when he approached her that she was not the right woman for the job. Rhee:

I told him that you don’t want me for this job. You are a politician. Your job is to keep the noise level to a minimum and to keep your constituents happy. I am a change agent. And change does not come without significant pushback and opposition, which is absolutely counter to what you want.

Then Rhee asked Fenty the million dollar question, “What would you risk just at the chance to change the school system?” Fenty’s reply? “Everything.”