When Agitators Become Insiders

Blogs, Letters & Testimonials

June 12, 2007

Michelle RheeThe 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.

This is obviously a huge move for the mayor, who took control of the city schools today. I am a big fan of Rhee, especially since her guts to bluster ratio is pretty much unmatched in public ed today. But bomb-throwing, hard-charging reform-types have a tendency to either flame-out after battling against the Education Cartel with both hands tied behind their backs (remember, despite the appearances, superintendents don't really run the show) or they disappointingly find themselves seduced by the status quo's excuse-making machine.