Any elected official who asks to visit my schools is welcome to do so; there is no political litmus test.

Whatever you think rigor looks like, you should go up a few notches.

I didn't design schools for poor kids. I'm designing schools to be world-class.

I am from an F.D.R. liberal-Democratic family. With proximity to government, I have become more libertarian.

To me, that is really fundamental to social justice: to have choices in life.

I took my teaching responsibilities very seriously... I taught some great courses: Legal history to feminist theory, courses in American mass culture... I love teaching - I mean really love it.

Self-delusion is rarely a good strategy for effective management.

I thought I was leaving elected office and politics in order to focus on schooling, but as you know, schooling turns out to be frankly even more political than politics.

I love working with teachers and principals; they are my heroes. They are very dedicated to children, and it's very impactful.

I've never believed the charter movement was exclusively for socially and economically disadvantaged kids.