Former Chancellor DC public schools Michelle Rhee
Former head of the Washington, DC public school system Michelle Rhee has launched a new national organization that will advocate for Students First in public education.
Rhee left her post once the 2010 election delivered a new DC mayor. The previous mayor, Adrian Fenty, had been a stalwart supporter of Rhee’s and in the aftermath of the elections, much speculation swirled around Rhee’s next moves. The Washington Post outlines her goals for the new advocacy group:
She aims to raise a boatload of money and members — $1 billion and one million members is the goal for the first year — to reshape education. That means trying to influence legislation, impact elections and foster program reforms in local school districts.
The second in command under Rhee, Kaya Henderson, has taken on the top post as interim chancellor of DC public schools going forward.
As for Students First, in Newsweek Rhee said she aims to “start a revolution.” As quoted in the Washington Post article linked above, she notes, “there is no organized interest group that defends and promotes the interests of children.”
Parents would lobby for their children if they had more time. Now, with the muscle of Rhee’s group and social media tools, they may just have the help they need.
