Friday marked Michelle Rhee's last official day as chancellor of D.C. public schools.
Rhee served as chancellor for three years. During her tenure, she fired hundreds of teachers and closed schools in an effort to improve education -- moves that triggered both praise and anger among a lot of folks.
Rhee and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty published a manifesto today describing what they learned while pushing for reform. They wrote in the Wall Street Journal:
"Not everything we did in D.C. can be replicated nationally, but much of it can be. We closed dozens of low-performing schools, streamlined the bloated central office bureaucracy, and replaced two-thirds of our principals. None of this will be easy to do politically. But we see little choice. Our failing schools are not just an injustice; they threaten the nation's competitiveness, its future and its very integrity.
Deputy Chancellor Kaya Henderson will step in as acting chancellor.
Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
