Subject: Secretary of Education
From: "Christopher Edley" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked], Federico Peña <[email-masked]>, "Valerie Jarrett" <[email-masked]>, "Cassandra Butts" <[email-masked]>, "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>, [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 14:34:29 -0800

Folks -- As you may know, I care more about this position than just about
any other. My impression is that you haven't gotten to closure yet. In that
case permit me to way in on two possibilities I hope are already in the mix:

1.  *Arne Duncan*.  Some believe he is "not ready" for the job.  I
disagree.  I think he has the presence and personality to project effective
leadership. If he is partnered with someone broadly knowledgeable in
education policy and how DC works, like Linda Darling-Hammond, I think he'd
be great. I generally strongly oppose putting superintendents or governors
in this job because they instinctively resist, or lack the imagination to
drive, a muscular federal role in education. Republican or Democrat, they
tend to think, "The feds should just send money and let wonderful state and
district leaders like me do the wonderful things that DC will never
understand."  But I don't think Duncan would be so doctrinaire.  Moreover,
his close relationship to Barack would send a powerful signal to all
constituencies that this is a priority and will remain so.

2.  *Melinda Gates.  *As co-chair of the Gates Foundation, she has become
deeply steeped in 0-16 issues over the past 15 years. I've seen her in
action -- she's compelling, deeply committed to an agenda virtually
indistinguishable from ours. Private sector and philanthropic sector
management experience.  She's really fabulous.  This struck me in a meeting
10 days ago when I saw her demonstrate spectacular leadership qualities in a
room full of about 100 serious education reform leaders from around the
nation.  Much less controversial than a Joel Klein. Please, please check her
out.  I'm sure there are good video clips, for example, on YouTube.  Happy
to help.

(personal email)
Christopher Edley, Jr.
Professor and Dean
UC Berkeley Law School