Mayor Takes Control, Picks Novice to Lead Troubled D.C. District
Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty assumed power over the troubled District of Columbia schools last week and immediately named as his schools chief an education entrepreneur known for recruiting teachers to work in needy urban schools.
Michelle A. Rhee, the 37-year-old founder of the nonprofit New Teacher Project , was a surprise choice for chancellor, as the new position will be called. Mr. Fenty made the announcement just hours after he took control of the 55,000-student system, which is among the lowest-performing urban districts in the nation. The mayor also hired Allen Y. Lew, a veteran manager of large-scale public projects, to lead the school system’s $200 million-a-year project to modernize its facilities.
Using his new authority to hire and fire the superintendent, Mr. Fenty chose Ms. Rhee to replace Clifford B. Janey, a career educator who had held the post since 2004 and had drawn plaudits for his districtwide plan...
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