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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Mike DeBonis on Local Politics - What Michelle Rhee did and didn't do for D.C.

Mike DeBonis on Local Politics - What Michelle Rhee did and didn't do for D.C.

What Michelle Rhee did and didn't do for D.C.

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Michelle Rhee is expected to announce her exit from the D.C. Public Schools this morning -- alongside her patron, Mayor Adrian Fenty, and the man she could not come to terms with, Mayor-to-Be Vincent Gray.

She will be remembered for bringing unprecedented national attention to the city schools -- attention that cut both ways. Without the string of national press she garnered and the high-flying company she kept -- Sun Valley, Aspen Institute and such -- there is little chance private foundations would have given the $65 million that made possible the landmark teacher contract that went into effect Oct. 1.

But the national attention, by and large, did not help her at hom