NYC Parent Group Grades Michelle Rhee

By dianeravitch

January 7, 2013 //

A Néw York City parent organization has created a report card for Michelle Rhee. Good read.

Categories Accountability, New York City, Parent Groups, Parents, Rhee, Michelle

44 Comments Post your own or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

Linda says:

January 7, 2013 at 7:14 pm

WARNING: Do not click on the photo to enlarge. What a puss!

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- Michael Fiorillo says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 7:28 pm
  
  I think it was Nelson Algren who said, “At twenty you have the face you were born with; at fifty you have the face you deserve.”
  
  Just imagine in a few years, after her downfall and repudiation…
  
  Reply
  - Linda says:
    
    January 7, 2013 at 7:35 pm
    
    Or like this..I hope this works:
    
    https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=672&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=michelle+rhee+duct+taped&oq=michelle+rhee+duct+taped&gs_l=img.3…37887.46033.0.46503.32.14.5.13.18.0.116.1144.12j2.14.0…0.0…1ac.1.L6BJyMVq2MY#biv=i|1;d|sge4ExWZ5bX7OM:
  - Duane Swacker says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 1:48 am
    
    Linda,
    My favorite photo was the one (her standing with NK military officials) proving that she, indeed, is a plant of the North Korean Spy Agency sent to ruin American public education so that NK can rightly take its place as the top dog nation of the world.
George Buzzetti says:

January 7, 2013 at 7:28 pm

The truth is what it is. I had to download that one and send it out. Thanks. Good job parents in calling it as it is.

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Sandy says:

January 7, 2013 at 7:31 pm

After careful consideration, my only comment is this. Michelle Rhee creeps me out.

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- George Buzzetti says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 7:36 pm
  
  If we do not fight this foolishness they could win as they have the big money behind them. That by itself does not guarantee them victory but it is an advantage.
  
  I also love the last comment of “creeps me out.”
  
  Reply
bbbbmer says:

January 7, 2013 at 7:36 pm

somehow, i think rhee is engineering a path to prison, rather than into the hearts and minds of americans of modest means who happen to love democracy and fairness, and whom also loathe corporate greed that funnels into her superpac….

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- retiredbutmissthekids says:
  
  January 8, 2013 at 1:37 am
  
  bbbbmer: We can only hope! Don’t forget to watch “Frontline: the Education of Michelle Rhee” tonight, on your local PBS station (it’s on at 10 PM in Chicago-WTTW). I have been hearing that it is NOT a puff-piece.
  
  Reply
nittany89 says:

January 7, 2013 at 7:38 pm

Why does this woman have any sort of prominence after we learned about cheating during her tenure, and her shadowy teaching history? Anyone else would be disgraced, and she is somehow the new education guru. I don’t get it. I only hope that the Frontline special is the beginning of her end.

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- George Buzzetti says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 8:25 pm
  
  She is far from the only one. If you will do whatever they want they will give you a lifelong job. You have Deasy, superintendent of LAUSD not having a real PHD. You have Yvonne Chan, one of the first charter school people in California since about 1994 and former Calif. State Board of Ed. member whose school today after 18 years only has a 710 API. You have the astroturf democrats DFER who are against teachers and public education. In California that is Gloria Romero. Just look up the Broad Academy Graduates and you will find a lot of these phony educators. Rhee even gave up custody of her own children. Think about it and she was only a so so teacher for three years when big money came in behind her.
  
  Reply
  - Linda says:
    
    January 7, 2013 at 8:30 pm
    
    Maybe that happens when you marry a pedophile…someone alert Campbell Brown.
    
    Click to access Phoenix_Police.source.prod_affiliate.4.pdf
  - George Buzzetti says:
    
    January 7, 2013 at 8:38 pm
    
    How is it that the worse goes to the top. This is upside down and not a cake with pineapples.
  - Linda says:
    
    January 7, 2013 at 8:32 pm
    
    And here:
    
    Rhee Conducted “Damage Control” in Response to Allegations of Fiance’s Sexual Misconduct
    
    http://www.dcurbanmom.com/weblog/rhee-walpin
  - retiredbutmissthekids says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 1:40 am
    
    The irony in that statement”Rhee even gave up custody of her own children,” and her statement after the Newtown tragedy, that “I am a mother.” The worst kind of hypocrisy!
  - George Buzzetti says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 2:00 pm
    
    Why not use reality on her. Her former husband, Hoffman, is a right wing educrat from Tennessee as is her present husband the mayor of Sacramento. Birds of a Feather and all that. I would like to ask all of you this “What kind of woman gives up custody of their children for any reason?” And not having money is not one of the reasons. What right does she have for telling anyone anything about children when she was a loser failed teacher for only three years and gave up custody of her children? Also, think about the total lack of morals and ethics of those who back her for their personal financial gain. She is ethically one of the most twisted out there.
nittany89 says:

January 7, 2013 at 7:40 pm

Sandy, me too!! She sets my teeth on edge.

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- efavorite says:
  
  January 8, 2013 at 8:53 am
  
  I’ve seen no evidence – only hearsay – that she gave up custody. When both parents were in DC, the kids lived parttime with both parents it what the Washington Post described as a joint custody arrangement. Her kids are now living in TN with their Dad — good move, as Rhee surely travels much more than he does.
  
  I suggest that somebody check the court records to verify the custody arrangements before spreading rumors any further.
  
  I am not a Rhee apologist. I have spent a lot of time refuting her claims – with verifiable facts, not rumor.
  
  Reply
timmcfarland says:

January 7, 2013 at 8:09 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the Frontline program!

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timereasonseason says:

January 7, 2013 at 8:15 pm

Ms. Rhee was endorsed by President Obama, Oprah Winfrey and a cadre of other highly regarded public figures. It is with much introspection, that I have decided to leave the field of education, because of people like Michelle Rhee, Dr. Steve Perry, Jonah Eddelman, Geoffrey Canada, Michale Bloomberg, and most importantly Arne Duncan. Since I was in the eighth grade I wanted to teach, I came from a family of teachers. Unfortunately education now and when I was in school has drastically changed and for the worse. The above mentioned people have caused me to be so angry and enraged, that it has reeked negative and toxic feelings upon me. As much as I love my students, I can’t afford to jeopardize my health: mental, physical, and spiritual. Maybe in time these people will get what is coming to them. However, I can’t wait. No human being deserves to be relegated and morally dehumanized by those who know not what they speak of. I pray for all the teachers who continue in this noble path, however my time is drawing to a close. Thank you for letting me speak my piece, while briefly answering nittany89’s question

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- Sandy says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 10:01 pm
  
  I feel your pain and so do many other teachers. This is a difficult time for our profession. We produce human learners, not widgets. Teaching hurts. If finally hurt more than I could bear. Kudos to those who hang in there doing what they love. I loved the work, too. I miss it. I miss the students. Most rewarding work on the planet. Well, used to be.
  
  Reply
- mathcs says:
  
  January 8, 2013 at 8:17 am
  
  Sorry to hear about that timereasonseason. Your students know how valuable you were for them. That’s all that really matters.
  
  Reply
- efavorite says:
  
  January 8, 2013 at 11:19 am
  
  The first and last mention I heard Obama make was before he was elected in 2008 in a debate with McCain. He called her DC’s “wonderful new superintendent.” http://www.fastcompany.com/1046420/obama-and-mccain-fight-over-woman
  
  I’ve looked for and haven’t found any Obama mention of Rhee since he has been president. If you find any, please post it here.
  
  Otherwise I recommend against saying the Obama has “endorsed” Rhee. So far, there is no evidence of it.
  
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  - timereasonseason says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm
    
    Here is my basis for saying Obama has endorsed Ms. Rhee. First, was during the debate with Senator John McCain, also in a speech, he praised Ms. Rhee’s efforts this was seen on Hulu on an episode of Bloomberg TV’s ‘Risk Takers. My other reason regards the alleged incident with her husband Sacramento Mayor, Kevin
    Johnson, in which an allegation was made regarding inappropriate
    sexual activity with a minor and misappropriations of funds for the St. Hope Charter School. Ms. Rhee went on a “damage control” mission and the man investigating the allegations a Mr. Walpin, was let go by the Obama administration. Another caveat that I feel backs up my saying of President Obama “endorsing” Rhee, is that his own Secretary of Education is on board with her, by the fact that he attended a conference with her. Clearly Secretary Duncan is a representation of President Obama’s education policies.
  - George Buzzetti says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 7:22 pm
    
    You can interchange Duncan, Obama and Rhee and have no difference. Their policies are the same, so what is the difference.
Billy says:

January 7, 2013 at 8:53 pm

What does looking ugly have to do with this. Let’s keep to the issues people. Not a fan of Rhee because how she treated African Americans so poorly in DC.

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- George Buzzetti says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 9:07 pm
  
  It is all about her policies of destruction.
  
  Reply
Alan says:

January 7, 2013 at 8:53 pm

I apologize for resorting to crude invective, but If that woman were to get an ***hole transplant, it would reject her.

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nk says:

January 7, 2013 at 10:04 pm

Didn’t she tape her students’ mouths shut because she couldn’t get them to be quiet? And she has the nerve to act as an educational expert?!!

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avannr says:

January 7, 2013 at 10:07 pm

Didn’t she tape her students’ mouths shut because she didn’t know how to get them to be quiet? And she passes herself off as an educational expert?!

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- dianerav says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 10:46 pm
  
  yes, she boasted to new teachers in DC that she taped her students’ mouths so they would be quiet. When she pulled off the tape, their lips were bleeding. Not funny.
  
  Reply
  - Dienne says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 6:23 am
    
    From what I’ve read, apparently her audience found it funny, which is perhaps even more frightening than her doing it in the first place.
  - Sandy says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 9:29 am
    
    “The Tiger Teacher”…an appropriate title for her book about education. Plausible. Yikes!
  - mathcs says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 8:18 am
    
    I wonder why this was never investigated by Child Protective Services or the police.
  - Linda says:
    
    January 8, 2013 at 9:57 am
    
    Sandy,
    
    Take off teacher…she is not one..she dabbled once and quite unsuccessfully. Tiger Liar would be better.
- efavorite says:
  
  January 8, 2013 at 9:13 am
  
  Here’s a link to the WaPo story describing the “lip taping” episode, followed by a link to the recording of it.
  
  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/08/michelle_rhee_first-year_teach.html#comments
  
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/08/13/VI2010081305444.html
  
  She’s telling new DCPS teachers stories of her first year of teaching, including how she took a few of her students on a field trip, without getting their home addresses in advance. You can hear the new teachers laugh light-heartedly as Rhee speaks.
  
  Reply
  - mathcs says:
    
    January 9, 2013 at 4:18 pm
    
    Thanks efavorite. I posted your comment on one of the two Frontline comment sections.
Lehrer says:

January 8, 2013 at 5:30 am

Let’s send a copy of this newsletter to every news organization we know and see if it gets aired.

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mathcs says:

January 8, 2013 at 8:30 am

A slight diversion…

Anagrams of “StudentsFirst”:

Find Test Ruts
Funds test Stir
Eds First Stunt

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guest says:

January 9, 2013 at 1:33 am

wow. what a sorry bunch of sour grapes!

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- Gia says:
  
  January 9, 2013 at 10:56 am
  
  agreed. I watched the Frontline piece and I can see how she would be unpopular with a few under performing (albeit not entirely their fault) teachers and administrators, but everyone knows what we have is broken and there needs to be an educational shake up. If anyone else feels like taking it on instead of casting unnecessary negative dispersions, where ARE they? I am open to other ideas, but the truth of the matter is, if someone was going to take this on in a genuine way . they would most likely have to do many of the things Rhee has done. Her style may leave a bit to be desired, but that’s about it.
  
  Reply
  - dianerav says:
    
    January 9, 2013 at 1:05 pm
    
    Really? She and her successor have had complete control of the schools in DC for five years and they remain one of the lowest performing districts in the nation, with the lowest graduation rate. Is that an example of success that others should follow?
  - George Buzzetti says:
    
    January 9, 2013 at 2:36 pm
    
    The fish rots from the head. That is all there is to it and that is administrators, the board of education and the superintendent who is really supposed to be run by the board. Of course with Gates and Broad et al in there the real masters are them. There is the wonderful word that is commonly abused and that is “Accountability.” No one is holding anyone to that standard and it is so easy if people and organizations would really do their job and check things out. We also have to thank Bill Clinton for signing the 1996 Telecommunications Act which wiped out the “free press.” One thing kids understand and that is adults who do not really care about them. They can smell it. Does anyone listen to them? Here in California a student and his high school classmates have an idea for students to have more input at the county and state level in real time considering education and what student needs are then not 20-30 years each side of now. As the world changes with technology and needs faster and faster these needs and their desires have to be met and they must understand we are really trying to help them. Also, remember that there is no perfection. When they tell you all will graduate and all will go to college they are knowingly lying to you.
AJAY JAIN says:

March 14, 2013 at 2:52 pm

Michelle Rhee – The famous former Washington DC School District Chancellor

Michelle Rhee on OPRAH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPsqO17f6Lw

Michelle Rhee on abc’s ThisWeek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nep1mcaFthU

Michelle Rhee on The DailyShow with Jon Stewart
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-4-2013/michelle-rhee
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-4-2013/exclusive—michelle-rhee-extended-interview-pt–2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-4-2013/exclusive—michelle-rhee-extended-interview-pt–3

pbs.org FRONTLINE: The Education of Michelle Rhee
http://video.pbs.org/video/2323979463/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/education-of-michelle-rhee/

Why Teach For America works – Michelle Rhee

A Two-Tier Proposal for Teacher Pay – Michelle Rhee

Time Magazine: Rhee Tackles Classroom Challenge
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1862444-2,00.html

Michelle Rhee Discusses “Waiting for Superman,” Charter Schools And Sch… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLih24QdwH8

Stanford University: A Conversation on “Waiting for Superman” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzrjo7Fvs1A

“Radical” Fighting to Put Students First should be a must read for all studentsfirst.org members! Michelle Rhee’s new book, “RADICAL: Fighting to Put Students First,” is now in stores! For more information about where you can find it, to read an excerpt from the book, and to share your story about education in America visit the official site at http://www.edradical.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/edradical.
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/michelle-rhee/510ff3b02b8c2a138f000747

Michelle Rhee at the ACE 2011 Spring Luncheon https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=mO9F-amHDuw

Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson (4/20/11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=OCcNzh7C_Tk&feature=endscreen

Michelle A. Rhee 03.17.11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD0g8Jb9l78

Cornell Alumni: Olin Lecture 2012: Michelle Rhee ’92https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwFD-wkAEi8

Harvard Public Health: Michelle Rhee, Former Chancellor of Washington D.C. Public Schoolshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH0twXcxNUY

http://fora.tv/2013/02/07/Michelle_Rhee_Fighting_to_Put_Students_First

Geoffrey Canada – Conversations at KCTS 9

Geoffrey Canada interviewed by Julian Bond: Explorations in Black Leadership …

“Waiting for Superman” the documentary and Bloomberg documentary “Risk Takers” Michelle Rhee should a required screening for all studentsfirst.org members. I saw them on Netflix and became an instant member of studentsfirst.org and Michelle Rhee follower.

“Won’t Back down” the movie is another example to screen to all studentsfirst.org members.

Share the reasons you fight for education reform. Your story will inspire others to get involved. So tell us: Why are you working to put students first? http://www.studentsfirst.org/facebook-story

Check out today’s blog by StudentsFirst staffer Charity Hallman, “One size fits all, or so they said,” on The Fordham Institute’s “Education Gadfly Daily: FLYPAPER” blog.

To view the Fordham study, “When Teachers Choose Pension Plans: The Florida Story,” visit http://www.studentsfirst.org/fordham-study-on-fl-teacher-pension-reform

Watch MAKER videos on StudentFirst Founder Michelle Rhee visit http://www.makers.com/michelle-rhee

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