Mayor Vincent Gray will name interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson the permanent chief of D.C. Public Schools on Wednesday, sources say. At a luncheon at the Metropolitan Club, Gray told members and their guests that his confidence in Henderson precluded a wide-scale search for Michelle Rhee’s permanent replacement.
“He said he believed in continuity in finding a new leader, and that every time you bring in a new leader you slow an organization down, which DCPS can’t really deal with.” said Camilo Acosta, an education reform activist and tech entrepreneur who attended the luncheon.
Acosta said Gray told lunchers he would announce the decision Wednesday.
A city government official leaving the luncheon also said Gray planned to appoint Henderson on Wednesday. “There was nothing informal about [the announcement],” he said.
Gray played coy as he left, referring The Washington Examiner to his Wednesday news briefing and confirming that he spoke about “the importance of continuity.”
Doxie McCoy, spokeswoman for the mayor, said she was not aware of the appointment but confirmed there will be school news on the Wednesday briefing agenda: “the budget hearing coming up, and other things.”
The order of mum escaped Patrick Mara, Ward 1 school board member and at-large candidate for D.C. Council, who sent out a statement Tuesday afternoon praising Gray for appointing Henderson. – Lisa Gartner and Freeman Klopott
