Report: Michelle Rhee Stepping Down From StudentsFirst
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Michelle Rhee is planning to step down as president of education advocacy group StudentsFirst, according to a report from the Huffington Post.
Rhee is the wife of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. The two met while she was a board member at Sacramento's St. Hope from 2006 to 2007. They were engaged in 2010 and married in 2011.
Rhee has been a polarizing figure in education, with protesters taking aim at her stance against teacher tenure.
In June, she issued the following statement in response to a ruling saying California's teacher tenure laws are unconstitutional:
"Judge Treu's groundbreaking ruling is a victory for California's students and affirms their fundamental right to a quality education – regardless of their zip code. I applaud the parents and the nine courageous students who stood up for their future and their right to a quality education. It is my hope that this movement continues on the national stage for all of our students."
Before she took on her role with StudentsFirst, she was the Washington, D.C., public schools chancellor from 2007 to 2010. An investigation found during her time as chancellor, staff were changing wrong answers on standardized tests to receive bigger bonuses.
