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Saturday, October 23, 2010

D.C. Teachers' Union election will affect survival of Rhee's initiatives

D.C. Teachers' Union election will affect survival of Rhee's initiatives

D.C. Teachers' Union election will affect survival of Rhee's initiatives

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 23, 2010; 11:37 AM

There's one election this political season in which D.C. residents - public school families in particular - have a major stake but no vote: for leadership of theWashington Teachers' Union.

Much of the public discussion about education reform this fall was dominated by the widely anticipatedresignation of Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee and presumptive mayor-elect Vincent C. Gray's willingness to sustain the initiatives she launched. But the survival of Rhee's agenda - especially for hiring, evaluating and firing teachers - will also be determined by those at the top of the 4,000-member union, which spent heavily to unseat her boss, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

George Parker, who signed the game-changing labor contract with Rhee that was approved by members in