The Bee Eater

The inside story of a maverick reformer with a take-no-prisoners
management style
Hailed by Oprah as a "warrior woman for our times," reviled by
teachers unions as the enemy, Michelle Rhee, outgoing chancellor of
Washington DC public schools, has become the controversial face of
school reform. She has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, and
is currently featured as a hero in the documentary "Waiting for
Superman." This is the story of her journey from good-girl daughter
of Korean immigrants to tough-minded political game-changer. When
Rhee first arrived in Washington, she found a school district that
had been so broken for so long, that everyone had long since given
up. The book provides an inside view of the union battles,
the school closings, and contentious community politics that have
been the subject of intense public interest and debate ? along with
a rare look at Rhee's upbringing and life before DC.
* Rhee has been featured in the documentary "Waiting for
Superman"
* Rhee's story points to a fresh way of addressing school
improvement
* Addresses fundamental problems in our current education
system, and the politics of leadership
The book includes an insert with photos from Rhee's personal and
professional life, and an "exit" interview that sheds light on what
she's learned and where the future might take her.

RICHARD WHITMIRE is a veteran education reporter. He is a -former editorial writer for USA Today, immediate past-president of the National Education Writers Association, and author of the book Why Boys Fail. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area.