Word: elections
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...willingness to compromise. In the heated world of education politics, that was the clearest message coming from President-elect Barack Obama when he tapped Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan to become the next Secretary of Education. (See Obama's other Cabinet picks...
...consensus builder. In Chicago, his knack for forging alliances can be seen in his strong relationship with the local teachers' union despite his embrace of reforms the union is leery of, including school choice, pay for performance and a willingness to close down failing schools. "Duncan mirrors the President-elect's style of governing - get all sides around the table, listen carefully and experiment with meaningful reforms," says Bruce Fuller, a professor of education at the University of California, Berkeley. "While tough-headed, he's rarely antagonistic, nor a kick-butt, take-names kind of reformer...
...other big plus: Duncan will be sure to have the President-elect's ear. They are personal friends and often play basketball together, most recently on Election Day. Like Obama, Duncan is Harvard-educated, and his Chicago roots run deep. The schools chief grew up in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood, where the Obamas have lived for several years. He went to the same private school the President-elect's daughters attended until recently. After Harvard, where he was co-captain of the basketball team, Duncan spent a year playing the sport in Australia before returning to his hometown...
...straddling these camps, Duncan echoes Obama's frustration with what the President-elect has called "tired educational debates." In his announcement of Duncan's nomination, Obama made clear that he wants to move past such standoffs. "It's been Democrat vs. Republican, vouchers vs. the status quo, more money vs. more reform," he said. "There's partisanship and there's bickering, but no understanding that both sides have good ideas and good intentions...
...education. The school has since been hailed as a model for teacher-residency programs. Dodge is "helping us rethink the way we train teachers in this country, and the way we run schools," says Ted Mitchell, president of the California board of education. "We're delighted that the President-elect has recognized that promise. It fits with his vision of positive change...