I recently had the privilege of moderating a panel at SXSW Edu with education thought leaders Michelle Rhee of Students First, Jose Ferreira of Knewton and Rob Lippincott of i2 Capital Group formerly of PBS and Discovery. The response to our discussion was overwhelming and we have extended the conversation with Michelle Rhee.
Michelle Rhee has been working for the last 18 years to give children the skills and knowledge they will need to compete in a changing world. From adding instructional time after school and visiting students’ homes as a third grade teacher in Baltimore, to hosting hundreds of community meetings and creating a Youth Cabinet to bring students’ voices into reforming the DC Public Schools, she has always been guided by one core principle: put students first. Each chapter of Michelle’s story has convinced her: students of every background and ZIP code can achieve at high levels, and for our schools to become what children deserve, every educator is called to believe this. Even in the toughest of circumstances, all teachers are called to turn the incredible potential that fills their classrooms daily, into the achievements worthy of our children and country.
