Thursday, December 2, 2010

Michelle Rhee Rick Scott transition: Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott names Michelle Rhee, Washington, D.C.'s former schools chancellor, to an 18-member education transition team. - OrlandoSentinel.com

Michelle Rhee Rick Scott transition: Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott names Michelle Rhee, Washington, D.C.'s former schools chancellor, to an 18-member education transition team. - OrlandoSentinel.com

Rhee leads Scott's education team

Washington, D.C.'s former schools chancellor tops list of 18 leaders to governor-elect's transition team

Governor-elect Rick Scott announced Thursday that he has formed a transition team of education and community leaders to help him create "a new education system for a new economy."

Topping the list is Michelle Rhee, the controversial former chancellor of Washington D.C. schools who has become something of a rock star in the world of education reform. Sharply critical of teacher tenure, she butted heads with the teachers union and fired or forced out hundreds of educators and other employees before she resigned recently.

She also closed dozens of failing schools.

The vast majority of the people named to Scott's education transition team — there are 18 of them — are from Florida, and some have been called upon by previous governors for guidance.

For example, Jonathan K. Hage, the president of Charter Schools USA, one of state's largest providers of charter schools, has