To say Michelle Rhee was never the most popular educator in Washington, D.C., would be an understatement. During Rhee’s three years at the helm of the district's public school system, her public opinion ratings suffered as she took on the unions, slashed budgets, and fired 1,000 underperforming educators. Rhee is a passionate educator who forged a track record of improvements in student performance during her 20-year career as a teacher and administrator. Since 2007, Rhee’s reforms in Washington are credited with a 17 percent increase in student test scores and a graduation-rate hike of 3 percent. Rhee resigned her post in October to pursue other education opportunities closer to her fiancé, former NBA star and Sacramento, Calif., Mayor Kevin Johnson.