Michelle Rhee drops out of school group

[Starry Messenger]

The Sarah Palin of education "reform" drops out of her own project. Hurr Durr.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/michelle-rhee-drops-out-of-school-group-110002.html

Michelle Rhee had big ambitions when she went on Oprah four years ago to launch her new advocacy group, StudentsFirst, with a promise to raise $1 billion to transform education policy nationwide.

But as she prepares to step down as CEO, she leaves a trail of disappointment and disillusionment. Reform activists who shared her vision say she never built an effective national organization and never found a way to use her celebrity status to drive real change.


StudentsFirst was hobbled by a high staff turnover rate, embarrassing PR blunders and a lack of focus. But several leading education reformers say Rhee’s biggest weakness was her failure to build coalitions; instead, she alienated activists who should have been her natural allies with tactics they perceived as imperious, inflexible and often illogical. Several said her biggest contribution to the cause was drawing fire away from them as she positioned herself as the face of the national education reform movement.

“There was a growing consensus in the education reform community that she didn’t play well in the sandbox,” one reform leader said.

<snip>

Evaluation: F. Also, does not play well with others.

[elleng]

1. Took a while for 'does not play well with others!'

[chervilant]

2. Why does this not surprise me?!?

She has never been the "face of the national education reform movement." She has been a shill for the corporate megalomaniacs who've been steadily eroding our system of public education.

[trublu992]

3. Michelle Rhee has celebrity status God help us!

[madfloridian]

4. Scott's Miracle Gro and on the board of hubby's Hope Academy. What a combo.

What will Rhee do next? She recently was appointed chairwoman of the board of the St. Hope Public Schools, a charter network founded by her husband. She also joined the board of directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Fertilizer, good place for her! :D

[roody]

5. I'm sure she made plenty of money

from her time there.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Love the first four words of the headline. nt