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.