New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is trying to woo education-reform rock star Michelle Rhee, the former Washington, DC, schools boss, to become the Garden State’s next education commissioner, it was reported yesterday.
But Rhee is reluctant to make the move because she wants to be closer to family, sources told The Star- Ledger. Rhee, who was prominently featured in the school reform flick “Waiting for Superman,” is engaged to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.
Rhee quit her job as Washington Schools Superintendent after her political patron, Mayor Adrian Fenty, lost a bitter primary — making her the hottest free agent in education circles.
Even Oprah Winfrey weighed in on Rhee’s future, urging the reformer to head Newark’s troubled school system. Rhee is not considering the move to Newark, sources told The Post.
“I’m still thinking about all my options, and where I would have the best impact for kids,” Rhee said yesterday on CNN.
She refused to confirm whether she’d been contacted by either Newark officials or the Christie administration.