Ex-Cop Who Replaced Arne Duncan Turning Around Chicago's Schools

Published October 23, 2009 @ 04:37PM PT

The man who has replaced Arne Duncan running Chicago's City Schools is Ron Huberman, a gay, Israeli born, ex-police officer who was plucked out of middle-management obscurity by Mayor Daley. Now, he's controlling Chicago's public school system's $5 Billion dollars, and looking after the interests of 400,000 students. He's only 37, and in a city worried the safety of their school children, he's winning a lot of support.

The Chicago Mag present him as an "uber-technocrat" who likes to analyse data and measure whatever can be measured. He's one of Mayor Daley's loyalists with David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, and Michele Obama having cut their teeth working for the mayor. Not afraid to take action, he has closed under-performing schools, and he subjects charters schools to tough standards.

Huberman has tripled the number of year round schools, and those who hear him speak are surprised by his intelligent ability to combine consultant speak with a wow! factor. He's optimistic that the school system can be turned around just like any organization, but with a substantial deficit and student violence in Chicago a problem we've recently discussed, it's clear that he's got a fight on his hands.

Photo credit: Christopher & AmiKate

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