Rhee Fires 22 Assistant Principals

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee fired 22 assistant principals this week, her second round of school administrative terminations that came about a month after her dismissal of 24 principals.

Rhee, who previously said some of the principals were terminated because she differed on the direction they were taking the schools, offered no reason for moving against the assistant principals. Under D.C. law, the administrative leaders work on year-to-year contracts and can be terminated without cause.

"Both principals and assistant principals serve at the will of the chancellor. The decisions were made based on the chancellor's consultation with principals and instructional superintendents," Rhee's spokeswoman Mafara Hobson said today in an e-mail. She declined to offer any more information, citing personnel policies.

Aona Jefferson, executive vice president of the Council of School Officers, which represents principals and assistant principals, said the 46 represents the largest number of administrative leaders who were not reappointed to their positions. She said several assistant principals called expressing dismay.

"Definitely, there are feelings of unfairness. They were given no evaluation in some cases," Jefferson said, adding that the dismissals seem "arbitrary and personal."

"There's no specificity to what's being done -- no documentation for what's being done," she said.

Jefferson said she has asked the D.C. Council to investigate the firings.

Dion Haynes