Distance from her family may prevent Rhee from taking job, officials said
Gov. Chris Christie and former Washington D.C. education chief Michelle Rhee.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has courted Michelle Rhee to become the state’s next education commissioner, but the job’s distance from her family may prove an insurmountable stumbling block, two officials familiar with the negotiations said.
When state officials initially approached Rhee, the former chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools, she quickly turned back the overture, thinking the governor wanted her to make a lateral move and run the Newark Public Schools. Even Oprah Winfrey endorsed the possibility of Rhee becoming Newark’s next superintendent.
In fact, the Christie administration wanted Rhee to consider the vacant state education commissioner’s post, a more attractive offer to her because it signified a step up on the ladder of national education reform influence, according to sources who sought anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss confidential matters. But the state could not get Rhee “past the gate” because of frustration that a move to New Jersey would take her away from her family.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor, would not comment on the state's search for a new education commissioner.
Speaking on CNN earlier today, Rhee would not confirm that New Jersey officials had contacted her about becoming the state’s next education commissioner or Newark’s next superintendent.
“I’m still thinking about all my options and where I would have the best impact for kids,” Rhee said. When reached by e-mail, Rhee would not comment further.
The governor has been on the hunt for a new education chief since firing former commissioner Bret Schundler in the wake of the state’s loss in the federal Race to the Top competition. Christie said late last month on New Jersey 101.5’s Ask the Governor radio program that he had been interviewing education commissioner candidates and that he hoped to name a permanent commissioner by the end of October, if not sooner.
Rhee became a possible contender for the post after her resignation last week as chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools, which followed the mayoral primary loss of her former boss and political benefactor, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Josh Margolin contributed to this report.