Documentary film “Waiting for Superman” praises Chancellor Michelle Rhee as a highly effective school reformer and applauds her desire to end teacher tenure.
Now, her own tenure may be ending after Mayor Adrian Fenty, who hired Rhee and allowed her great freedom to exercise school reform, lost his bid for re-election to D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray, who has criticized her leadership style as autocratic.
Education was a primary issue in the election, with many D.C. residents saying they would vote against Fenty because they disagreed with Rhee’s reforms.
Rhee said she “could not answer” if she wished “Waiting for Superman” hit box offices before the mayoral primary.
“It is what it is,” she said.
Her storyline in the documentary ended with the Washington Teachers’ Union refusing to recognize her proposed contract without so much as a vote.
Since then, a new contract was signed, Rhee fired 241 teachers rated ineffective on evaluations, and the incensed teacher’s union endorsed Gray.
When asked if the documentary’s message would change if it included the contract’s signing, Rhee sighed. “The thing is, the story is always ongoing. Do you include the fact that the mayor didn’t get re-elected, or that the union threw a lot of money [at Gray’s campaign]?” Rhee asked. “The situation we faced at the time of the filming was demonstrative of what’s happening in most urban districts with their contracts with the unions.”
Rhee has declined to say whether she will remain as chancellor under Gray, who has repeatedly criticized her leadership style and who recently said he would consider rehiring teachers let go for budgetary reasons.
For her part, Rhee campaigned as a private citizen for Fenty, and has said she feels “guilty” over his loss.
Gray and Rhee have met once since the primary, but said they did not discuss whether Rhee would remain as chancellor. Gray said he and Rhee would meet again in the coming weeks.
