The Bee Eater

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.