Briggs The Washington Post’s Bill Turque first reported this morning that State Superintendent of Education Deborah Gist has resigned and taken a position as Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the state of Rhode Island. Gist’s decision to leave doesn’t come as a huge surprise, given how she’d been largely relegated to a background role in the restructured DCPS system under Mayor Adrian Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Gist was appointed by…

In Denver a couple of weeks ago, D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee provoked speculation with her comment that she had a “Plan B” ready on deck should the controversial teachers’ contract fail to pass. On Friday, Rhee revealed that Plan B. Basically, Rhee will use powers already under her authority to revise the teacher evaluation process, changes she can make without seeking union or council approval. More significantly, new rules taking effect this week will…

It’s been a bizarre week in D.C. education, as ostriches rallied on 14th St. and seemingly everyone from Katie Couric to Al Sharpton had their eye on the District’s schools. Thursday was the last day of classes for DCPS students, and while Mayor Adrian Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee commemorated the one year anniversary of the schools takeover at a press conference at Langdon Elementary, a smaller gathering at the corner of 14th and…