From the archives: The Post Announces Fenty's School Chancellor Decision

[jsteele]

For most of 2007, I published a blog focused on local District of Columbia issues. The blog is now offline, but I've decided to republish some of the school related posts here. Those interested in background to many of today's school issues may find them interesting.


Originally published June 12, 2007.

For some time the unusually close relationship between DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and the city's most influential newspaper, The Washington Post, has been readily apparent. However, that relationship became even more visible today when the Post — apparently alone among the DC media — was given prior notice of Fenty's selection of Michelle Rhee as the schools chancellor. As a result, the Post was the exclusive source of information about Fenty's decision and the close collaboration of the city's political and media establishment clearly colored the initial coverage of Rhee's selection.

Rhee is the founder and chief executive officer of the New Teacher Project, a nonprofit group that recruits teachers to serve in urban school districts. Rhee and the New Teacher Project represent what are known as "education entrepreneurs", a group of non-profit and for-profit organizations that seek to transform public education systems. Education entrepreneurs have had an active role in DC through the charter school movement. The New Teacher Project has had a number of contracts with the DC Public Schools.

The New Teacher Project, while a non-profit, is a revenue-generating enterprise that operates like a business. Another non-profit education entrepreneurial organization, EdBuild, has created much controversy by using insider political connections to obtain a $57 million school modernization contract. Kaya Henderson, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at the New Teacher Project, is a member of EdBuild's board of directors. Rhee has apparently hired Henderson as Deputy Chancellor.

Rhee and the New Teacher Project are well-known as critics of standard public school hiring practices and teachers' union contracts. The organization produced a report titled, "Unintended Consequences: The Case for Reforming the Staffing Rules in Urban Teachers Union Contracts" which concluded that union collective bargaining agreements prevented the best teachers from being hired.

Regardless of whether Rhee and the New Teacher Project are on target or off with their policy ideas, the issues are obviously controversial. Yet, David Nakamura, probably operating under fairly restrictive ground rules in exchange for the exclusive story, quotes only supporters of Rhee. While he mentions that Rhee might be "a tough sell with school employees, parents and D.C. Council members" he doesn't allow any of those possible detractors to explain themselves.

The Post's editorial page also weighed in on the Mayor's selection. While generally supportive, the editorial does give attention to the possible caution flags that should surround Rhee. In addition, the editorial pays homage to Clifford Janey, the school's superintendent who is now out of a job. The editorial calls on the Council to take seriously its obligation to vet [Rhee's] candidacy" but to do so "without delay."

It is notable that Nakamura's article was apparently written before either Janey or Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray had been informed of Fenty's decision. As a result, neither are quoted in the article.

While today's editions of the Washington Times and the DC Examiner both have stories speculating on Janey's future, the Post carries the real story. Unfortunately, the Post's coverage is little more than a glorified press release as the newspaper performs more like Fenty's public affairs department than an objective observer. It will be interesting to see if the Post continues to participate in this manipulation of public perception and how the Times and Examiner will react to being scooped. It will be especially enlightening to see how these publications address the EdBuild connections given that an additional EdBuild fox has been selected to guard the schools henhouse.

Update: The Post's Nakamura has an updated article following Fenty's press conference introducing Rhee. Nakamura still hasn't managed to find anyone who has anything but praise for the nominee. One of those quoted in the original article, New York City School Chancellor Joel I. Klein, spoke at the press conference today. As a result, Nakamura's articles have only reflected the views of the Fenty administration and people identified by the Fenty administration as supportive of its message. How is Nakamura acting any differently than Fenty's press secretary? Note: in an updated version of this article, Nakamura manages to quote a number of people who are not members of Team Fenty. The result is much better.

Update 2: Bruce Johnson on the WUSA9.com Blog says that non-Post reporters are furious about Fenty delivering the Rhee scoop to the Post. He writes, "Jonetta Rose Barras, who strongly endorsed his candidacy early on, was furious at how the Mayor locked out the rest of the media and top city officials from the big announcement." Johnson's focus is on other reporters being upset that they didn't get the story handed to them. A bigger and more important issue is the implications of the city's most influential newspaper acting as the press department for the mayor.