Michelle Rhee: Unconventional, Bee-Swallowing Reformer

As a graduate of a DCPS high school, and someone who is looking forward to taking big strides in the education field, I am interested to see what Michelle Rhee can do, and if she will garner favorable results... She should look out though... I'm coming after her job!

I worked as a high school secretary for 9 different principals in a 28 year period. Only one or two had the guts to NOT grant tenure to a failing teacher. It is a favor to them to steer them in a different vocation if they are not capable of teaching, not to say the favor you do for the students.

Way to go Ms. Rhee.....I would loved to have worked for you. In fact I would love to talk with you.....I have preached for years that administrators should not be teachers who just want to get out of the classroom or want more money. Some of the principals I worked for were big jokes. After working with some incompetent teachers and administrators, I decided if they could get a college degree, then I could. I went back to college at age 46 and graduated at age 50. The college experience was again another eyeopener. Reading classmates journalism papers, I was shocked to read how pooly they wrote. Just don't get me started. Our education system needs a reform NOW. Again way to go Ms. Rheee. I commend you.

I'm impressed how commenters superimpose their desires for better education on Michelle Rhee without any supportive data. She says she puts children first, but there's no indication that she does - it's just rhetoric. She offers no "years of research" or" true results." In Fact she has never run a school system before and does not have an academic background in education.

She is not a miracle worker - no one is. In fact she's a sham, which is increasingly obvious to people in DC. She's a divisive and arrogant bully. Name me one person like that, not including dictators, who ever succeeded in their mission.

Michelle Rhee might have some sound ideas, but her approach is too abrasive. All I ever hear hear Michelle Rhee talk about is firing teachers and closing down schools. There is so much more to school administration than those two aspects. DC should look to Northern VA for better methods to school adminxn; Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria have very good systems. Why not hire one of their administrators?

I am the parent of a 13 year old son, of whom I feel the "Educational System" has failed. I spend hours with my son each night after work, helping him, and every single day I hear the same thing from my son. "My teachers don't have enough time to help me, and they don't care!" It's about time someone like Michelle Rhee steps in, and cuts out the bureaucratic b.s. and puts our children, our future, FIRST! Michelle Rhee is RIGHT! 100%. It's obvious our current system is NOT working, and something HAS to change, because this country is at the bottom of the barrel in education. I support you Michelle Rhee!!! WAY TO GO!!!!

Hopefully President-Elect Obama will side with years of research, true results, and back Michelle Rhee's admittedly bold truly reform the pathetic educational system in this country!

Every school district in the country deserves someone like her. A true reformer who isn't afraid of challenging a tradition of failed schools, and who definitely isn't afraid of standing up to one of the most abusive, most aggressive unions which has shown no regard for students, education, or taxpayers. bold plan to once

Now if she could get tenure for grade school teachers eliminated, and decent, performance based waged enabled - nationwide - I'd nominate this woman for sainthood!

What makes this woman qualified to strut into town and wrangle up the outlaws with six-shooter? Romantic notions aside, this sounds like pouring gasoline on fire. Everything based on test scores? Shutting down 23 schools in one year? Firing people left and right? As a teacher, I would have zero trust in her. How can you attract thoughtful educators when everything is based on test scores and "trial by fire?" You can't.

What makes this woman think she knows what's best for this school system? Never having been a superintendent before? What has she done that qualifies her to be the lone cowboy laying down the law? Romantic notions aside, this looks like pouring gasoline on fire. Everything is based on test scores? Shutting down 23 schools? Firing people left and right? I cannot imagine how you can attract thoughtful and talented educators to that schoolsystem.

Bravo!! We need her in corrupt and broken school system in the country... Great job!!

Real, measurable, and tangible education reform is long overdue. Praise and prayers to all involved. All the best for the children.