Michelle Rhee

Michelle Rhee is a prominent American educator and advocate for education reform, best known for her tenure as Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools from 2007 to 2010. Rhee began her career as a Teach for America corps member, teaching in an inner-city school where she demonstrated remarkable improvement in her students’ standardized test scores. This early success led her to become the CEO of The New Teacher Project, a nonprofit organization that trained thousands of mid-career professionals to become teachers, significantly impacting urban education across the United States.

In 2007, Rhee was appointed Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, where she inherited a struggling system with a history of low performance. Under her leadership, she implemented bold reforms aimed at increasing accountability and improving student achievement. Rhee’s initiatives included renegotiating teacher compensation and introducing a performance-based pay system, which resulted in improved standardized test scores across secondary and elementary schools during her tenure.

After resigning in 2010, Rhee founded StudentsFirst, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for education reform nationwide. Through StudentsFirst, she has worked with various state governors to promote policies aimed at abolishing teacher tenure and enhancing educational opportunities for students. Rhee has also been a visible figure in the media, participating in discussions and documentaries that highlight the need for systemic change in education.

Rhee’s influence extends beyond her immediate roles, as she has served on advisory boards for several educational organizations and has been involved in national conversations about school choice and educational equity. Her commitment to reform continues to shape the landscape of American education, making her a significant figure in the ongoing dialogue about how to best serve students and improve educational outcomes.