June 18, 2007
Schools Chancellor Tries to Balance Her Image
Acting D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee is already making big headlines just days into her as yet unconfirmed tenure. On Sunday, the Post ran a short but crucial story about how Rhee has suspended hiring new principals until she can be sure she's looking at the best possible candidate pool. The story also details how Rhee has spent her first week on the job -- by meeting with parents, teachers and employees to reassure them that her immediate plans don't call for radical new initiatives, but rather basics like making sure teachers are paid on time and focusing on back-to-school readiness for the fall.
It's an odd position for Rhee to be in, considering Fenty surely hired her to implement real reform. But since the way she was hired (in relative secrecy) and the kind of experience she brings to the table (running an out-of-town non-profit) didn't leave her in the best position to be welcomed immediately by the community, she's been on a PR mission to make sure she can at least leave a good impression on those she's able to meet with personally. Considering what those who do know her face-to-face style say about her, that's probably the smartest thing Rhee can do at this point.
The Post ran another big story on Rhee on the front page this morning, this time focusing on her status as the first superintendent-level appointee to come out of the so-called "Teach for America insurgency." The D.C. Council has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing, but it's hard not to get the feeling that Rhee has her work cut out for her in convincing the stodgy council members that she simultaneously represents the cutting edge in education reform, and at the same time doesn't plan to move too fast so as not to scare anyone.
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this is unrelated to this story specifically, but how long is the american apparel ad buy going to run for? i have no problem with the ads, but some of them are racy (the one where the couple is kissing and the guy is pulling up her skirt) and they're borderline NSFW. i don't want to have to ignore dcist during the day, but i need to be certain that i won't get shit from my boss if i leave the desk for a few minutes and i leave dcist on my screen.
To go even further off tangent, I have to second IMGoph as well. My boss doesn't mind that I read DCist, but the AA pictures are boderline NSFW. Besides, who liked last week having that girl in the unitard with the semi-camel toe staring at you straight in the face? Maybe at home, but defintely not at work.
i did...
but then again, i look at porn at work...
I'm sorry, but you simply MUST provide a link to the semi-cameltoe unitard girl photo. For research purposes only, of course.
Also, if dcist never again runs a photo of Barbara Mcculsky, I can die a happy monkey.
Use Firefox with Adblock Plus. I have no idea what ads you are talking about because I never see them.
I don't think its on here anymore. I tried refreshing the screen several times to get the ad to come up, but alas no more cameltoe girl. I did notice it earlier on Wonkette. You just have to refresh the site to see it. Anyhoo, here's a URL to the AA site with their ads:
www.americanapparel.net/presscenter/ads/
Wow...you guys removed the AA ads. YOU BASTARDS! That's the only thing I look forward to every morning when I check DCist.
As for the topic we should be talking about.....Ms. Rhee...I wish her the best of luck. Anyone who heads the public schools in this city needs to focus on the external factors (single parent families, drugs, etc) that are causing our children not to succeed and not just test scores.
Okay, for a minute there I was thinking you were talking about the pre-celebrity communist Jane-Fonda-as-Barbarella pic, which I have absolutely no problem with. As a matter of fact, that's how I'd like to remember her.
Or, at least my right hand does.
Why did I think monkeyrotica was gay?
Must have been some past post evincing detailed knowledge of gloryholes or something....
You don't have to be gay to appreciate the subtle nuances of glory holes or the early career of Peter North, but it doesn't hurt.
Unless you run out of lube or have lousy aim.
Regarding the AA ad -- I thought the girl in the unitard was preggers. If not she has one hell of a FUPA.
These links go directly to the ads:
spe.atdmt.com/b/3AAMPAMAPAMA/160x600_rsa8338_01_1__003.jpg
spe.atdmt.com/b/3AAMPAMAPAMA/160x600_vacation_01_1_.jpg