Photo by Fred Lewis.

Perhaps realizing her controversial statement that Tuesday’s “election results were devastating…for the schoolchildren of Washington, D.C.” might not have been the wisest thing to put out there in the wake of a political upheaval, Michelle Rhee has backtracked a little bit today. In a brief statement on the Washington Post’s All Opinions Are Local blog (which, in full disclosure, both myself and DCist’s Martin Austermuhle contribute to on occasion), Rhee said that her statement was not a reflection on Vincent Gray, but rather a commentary on the perceived effect that the election results will have on education reform in the District.

Rhee’s full statement:

This week I used the word “devastating” to describe the potential effects of the D.C. mayoral election. I want to be very clear: In using this word I was not criticizing D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray. I was describing the perception by some that this election had been a referendum on reform of the D.C. schools itself. If the results were to be read as a repudiation of reform, that indeed would be devastating for D.C. children, for the city and for children throughout the country who are so dependent on successful school reform efforts.

Rhee and Gray are scheduled to meet next Wednesday to discuss a variety of issues, including her future as D.C. Public Schools Chancellor.