Tampabay.com

DECEMBER 02, 2010

Rick Scott names Michelle Rhee, Patricia Levesque to education transition team

Republican Gov.-elect Rick Scott, halfway through his transition, formally announced his transition team for education today.

The team includes some superstars in the conservative education circles, such as former Washington D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee and Patricia Levesque, former Gov. Jeb Bush's education policy advisor and the current head of his education foundation.

The Buzz from Team Scott is that the new governor would love to install Rhee as head of the Florida Department of Education. Rhee was making more than $300k in DC,  but Florida's commissioner earns $275k. One drawback for her could be travel: she's married to former NBA star Kevin Johnson, who is mayor Sacramento, where it's much more difficult to travel to from Tallahassee than it was from the nation's capital.

Rhee was in San Diego last month for the Republican Governor's Association meeting, as was Scott. Enu Mainigi, the head of Scott's transition, said the two might have talked but that there was no formal meeting.

Here's the rest of Scott's education team: 

Michelle Rhee - Former Chancellor, Washington, DC Schools; Patricia Levesque - Executive Director, Foundation For Florida's Future; MaryEllen Elia – Superintendent, Hillsborough County Schools;  Ed Moore – President, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida; J. David Armstrong, Jr. – President, Broward College and Former Chancellor of Community Colleges of Florida; John Kirtley – Chairman, Step Up For Students; Liza McFadden – President, Volunteer USA Foundation; Frank T. Brogan – Chancellor, State University System of Florida; Dr. Fred Lippman - Chancellor, Health Professions Division - Nova Southeastern University; Dennis W. Bakke - President and CEO, Imagine Schools; Dr. Judy Genshaft - President, University of South Florida; Julio Fuentes – President, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Carlos Curbelo - Miami Dade School Board and State Director for Sen. LeMieux; Mindy Cunningham – Principal, J Strategies; Gary R. Chartrand - Executive Chairman, Acosta Sales & Marketing Company and Board of Directors, KIPP Schools Jacksonville, Florida; Dr. Don Pemberton - Director, Lastinger Center For Learning University of Florida; Mindy Lafevers-Hodge - World History Instructor, Florida Virtual Schools; Jonathan K. Hage - President and CEO, Charter Schools USA

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