When Agitators Become Insiders

DFER Exec Dir Joe Williams is already up and blogging on our new web site at dfer.org.  Here's his take on Michelle Rhee's hiring:

I love the work that Michelle has done in the area of human resources and teacher contracts. She's got the kind of chutzpah it takes to stare special interests in the face and put common sense ahead of petty demands.

But she's also taking on one of the toughest jobs in public education. If we have learned anything in the last 20 years, it is that public education itself may simply not be reformable in its current state. The Great Man Theory doesn't have a great track record of teaching kids how to read, write, and do math.

Here's to hoping that you beat the odds, Michelle. Honestly. Let us know how we can help. 

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When Agitators Become Insiders

http://www.dfer.org/2007/06/when_agitators.php#more

The Washington Post this morning reports that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is ousting D.C. Superintendent Clifford Janey and replacing him with Michelle Rhee, a dynamo who runs the NYC-based New Teacher Project.