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Deciphering Michelle Rhee

Her image is of a tough-talking schools chief who's out to sack every last veteran teacher in D.C.'s failing system. The reality is not so simple.

Washington, D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee photographed last year at Walker-Jones Education Campus with, from left, Joseph Johnson, Marshae Blackson, Yeiri Padua-Sanchez, Jahleel Marlow and Fidelle Guy.

Washington, D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee photographed last year at Walker-Jones Education Campus with, from left, Joseph Johnson, Marshae Blackson, Yeiri Padua-Sanchez, Jahleel Marlow and Fidelle Guy.

Robyn Twomey-Corbis Outline

Rhee, who has two BlackBerrys, is always multitasking. The standard media summary of Rhee is simple: Brusque, madly energetic, young outsider is imported to take on the toughest job in American education. The obstacles are frightening: an achievement gap of 70 percentage points between blacks and whites in the city's high schools. "The poor black fourth-graders in New York City are two full grades ahead of the poor black fourth-graders in Washington, D.C.," Rhee says.

Rhee, who has two BlackBerrys, is always multitasking. The standard media summary of Rhee is simple: Brusque, madly energetic, young outsider is imported to take on the toughest job in American education. The obstacles are frightening: an achievement gap of 70 percentage points between blacks and whites in the city's high schools. "The poor black fourth-graders in New York City are two full grades ahead of the poor black fourth-graders in Washington, D.C.," Rhee says.

Mark Peterson-Redux

On a now-infamous cover of Time Magazine, Rhee posed with a broom in hand. D.C. teachers and other critics saw it as teacher-bashing, a sign that she was ready to sweep out her employees. "I was surprised by how others saw it -- me being a witch, which I don't get. I personally thought it sent the right message -- sweeping change and cleaning house."

On a now-infamous cover of Time Magazine, Rhee posed with a broom in hand. D.C. teachers and other critics saw it as teacher-bashing, a sign that she was ready to sweep out her employees. "I was surprised by how others saw it -- me being a witch, which I don't get. I personally thought it sent the right message -- sweeping change and cleaning house."

Reprinted Through the Courtesy of the Editors of Time Magazine Copyright 2009 Time Inc.

In an outtake from the Time Magazine cover shoot, Rhee holds a ruler.

In an outtake from the Time Magazine cover shoot, Rhee holds a ruler.

Robyn Twomey-Corbis Outline

The other poses from the Time Magazine cover shoot with photographer Robyn Twomley emphasized Rhee's central message -- that the time for weasley reforms and endless studies is over, that a new sheriff has arrived to take charge of the nation's most troubled schools.

The other poses from the Time Magazine cover shoot with photographer Robyn Twomley emphasized Rhee's central message -- that the time for weasley reforms and endless studies is over, that a new sheriff has arrived to take charge of the nation's most troubled schools.

Robyn Twomey-Corbis Outline

Rhee agreed to come to Washington only after being assured greater authority over the schools than any superintendent had ever had. Almost instantly, she managed to alienate important people. Some D.C. Council members and elected school board members see her as arrogant and deliberately antagonistic. Some education reformers say she has failed to come through on her key initiatives, such as developing a year-round schooling alternative, lengthening the school day, and getting partners such as the Smithsonian or Georgetown University to run a school.

Rhee agreed to come to Washington only after being assured greater authority over the schools than any superintendent had ever had. Almost instantly, she managed to alienate important people. Some D.C. Council members and elected school board members see her as arrogant and deliberately antagonistic. Some education reformers say she has failed to come through on her key initiatives, such as developing a year-round schooling alternative, lengthening the school day, and getting partners such as the Smithsonian or Georgetown University to run a school.

Robyn Twomey-Corbis Outline

Rhee is briefed at a meeting at the system's North Capitol Street headquarters. She is unapologetic about her blunt manner: "I'm not going to pretend to solicit your advice so you'll feel involved, because that's just fake."

Rhee is briefed at a meeting at the system's North Capitol Street headquarters. She is unapologetic about her blunt manner: "I'm not going to pretend to solicit your advice so you'll feel involved, because that's just fake."

Mark Peterson-Redux

Rhee meets with parents at Eliot-Hine Middle School. She never lets even the angriest critics fluster her. After a heated confrontation with parents at another event, aides scurried to rush her out. Rhee waved the staffers off, positioning herself smack in front of the loudest, most irrational antagonists.

Rhee meets with parents at Eliot-Hine Middle School. She never lets even the angriest critics fluster her. After a heated confrontation with parents at another event, aides scurried to rush her out. Rhee waved the staffers off, positioning herself smack in front of the loudest, most irrational antagonists.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Patrick Green, 16, a junior at Cardozo High School and student in the Academy of Construction and Design, talks with Rhee during a tour of Nationals Park.

Patrick Green, 16, a junior at Cardozo High School and student in the Academy of Construction and Design, talks with Rhee during a tour of Nationals Park.

Ricky Carioti-The Washington Post

Rhee talks with students at Banneker High School in Northwest D.C.

Rhee talks with students at Banneker High School in Northwest D.C.

Kevin Clark-The Washington Post

Rhee talks to students after a forum at Eliot-Hine Middle School. She's toning down her all-or-nothing style. She's in the middle of a charm offensive. She goes out to schools to hold informal Q&A sessions with teachers (it works; those who attend seem to adore her). She's meeting parents in living-room visits that turn into lovefests. She wrote an <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/08/AR2009020801711.html" TARGET="_blank">op-ed piece in The Post</a> singing the praises of teachers.

Rhee talks to students after a forum at Eliot-Hine Middle School. She's toning down her all-or-nothing style. She's in the middle of a charm offensive. She goes out to schools to hold informal Q&A sessions with teachers (it works; those who attend seem to adore her). She's meeting parents in living-room visits that turn into lovefests. She wrote an op-ed piece in The Post singing the praises of teachers.

Mark Peterson-Redux

A bulletin board outside Rhee's office displays handmade thank-you notes from students.

A bulletin board outside Rhee's office displays handmade thank-you notes from students.

Sarah L. Voisin

Rhee meets with her staff to mark her two-year anniversary. She's come to understand why people reacted to her Time Magazine broom cover, but in the end, she says she has no choice but to be who she is. "Would my life be easier if I was a little less forthright, a little more accommodating? In some ways, absolutely. But in some ways, it would not, because all you have in life is your personal integrity, who you are and what you believe in. I can sleep at night. I have no regrets -- not to date, anyway. I make mistakes all the time, but I don't have regrets about them."

Rhee meets with her staff to mark her two-year anniversary. She's come to understand why people reacted to her Time Magazine broom cover, but in the end, she says she has no choice but to be who she is. "Would my life be easier if I was a little less forthright, a little more accommodating? In some ways, absolutely. But in some ways, it would not, because all you have in life is your personal integrity, who you are and what you believe in. I can sleep at night. I have no regrets -- not to date, anyway. I make mistakes all the time, but I don't have regrets about them."

Bill O'Leary

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Amanda McGrath

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This Story Rhee faces renewed scrutiny over depiction of students' progress when she taught Article \| Former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, known for her crusade to use standardized test scores to help evaluate teachers, is facing renewed scrutiny over her depiction of progress that her students made years ago when she was a schoolteacher. The Answer Sheet: Missing the point on Rhee Deciphering Michelle Rhee		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		Related In Search of The Real Michelle Rhee The take-charge chancellor of D.C. public schools, is trying to fix a failing system. Critics say she's arrogant, insensitive, harsh and reckless. Supporters say she's honest, caring, dynamic and a defender of the underdog. But who is the real Michelle Rhee? D.C. Schools Chief Michelle Rhee Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. ET \| D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee, profiled in this week's Washington Post Magazine, takes questions and comments. Editor's Note:
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