1 x 54 Michelle Rhee is one of the most admired and reviled school reformers in America. A media star, Rhee has appeared on Oprah and graced the cover of Time magazine. Her organization, StudentsFirst, has become a political 1 x 54 player, backing candidates who support her efforts to weaken teacher tenure and reward good educators. Yet when Washington, D.C. Mayor c o n ta c t selected Rhee to become chancellor of the beleaguered D.C. Public Schools Tom Koch, Vice President PBS International in 2007, few people outside the mayor’s inner circle had ever heard of her. 10 Guest Street How did a virtual unknown who had never before run a school system Boston, MA 02135 USA rise to such prominence? Why is she so controversial? And did her take-no- TEL: +1-617-208-0735 prisoners approach to reforming the D.C. Public Schools actually produce FAX: +1-617-208-0783 significant results—or were highly touted test score gains during her tenure jtkoch@.org pbsinternational.org the result of a cheating scandal Rhee refused to investigate? The Education of Michelle Rhee offers a behind-the-scenes look at Rhee’s tumultuous three-year tenure as chancellor. For three years, FRONTLINE correspondent John Merrow followed Rhee’s reform efforts, gaining unprecedented access to students, teachers, administrators, and Rhee herself. The result is a revealing insiders’ look at Rhee’s efforts to trans- form the worst public school system in the nation. FRONTLINE examines her legacy in Washington, D.C., including her battles with the teachers’ union and her handling of a cheating scandal in the District.

1312210

c r e d i t s Producer: Michael Joseloff Senior Producer: Nina Chaudry Executive Producer for FRONTLINE: David Fanning Deputy Executive Producer for FRONTLINE: Raney Aronson-Rath Photo credit: Gary Landsman (Rhee); Jonathan Rissmeyer (background).