Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Michelle Rhee, who resigned as schools chancellor of the District of Columbia, is “seriously considering” becoming New Jersey’s next education commissioner, the Star-Ledger reported, citing two unidentified people familiar with the negotiations.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s office asked Rhee, 40, to become the state’s education commissioner, the Star-Ledger said today. Rhee’s desire to be close to family in California may prove too big an obstacle to convince her, the newspaper said. Rhee initially turned down the offer after assuming the state wanted her to run the Newark public schools, according to the report.
Rhee’s announced her resignation last week as D.C. chancellor, a post she’s held since 2007, without saying what her plans were. She will leave the job at the end of the month.
Emily Lenzner, a spokeswoman for Rhee, didn’t immediately return an e-mail from Bloomberg seeking comment. Christie’s office declined to discuss or identify potential candidates in advance of a nomination, said spokesman Michael Drewniak. The New Jersey Department of Education didn’t immediately return a phone call requesting comment.
--With assistance from Terrence Dopp in Trenton, New Jersey. Editors: Bruce Rule, Robin D. Schatz
To contact the reporter on this story: Esmé E. Deprez in New York at edeprez@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jonathan Kaufman at jkaufman17@bloomberg.net.
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