In addition to the Arnolds, mentioned above, here’s another one of the backers of “Teach for America,” from which Michelle Rhee came:
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While the WSJ doesn’t include in its story that it was a Walton Family funded group whom facilitated the relationship, it reports on the curious contact between a billionaire hedge funder and the Connecticut State Board of Education to prompt the private takeover of Bridgeport schools.
Dating back as far as January, emails referencing a state takeover of the Bridgeport public school system were exchanged between the Bridgeport Schools
Superintendent John Ramos, the state board of education head Allan Taylor,Coleman, and Meghan Lowney, who according to tax forms was an independent contractor for the $134 million family foundation of Sue and Steve Mandel, the founder of Lone Pine Capital in Greenwich. The emails also mention Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch’s involvement in the matter, though he was not included on any of the emails reviewed
Lowney was introduced to state school board chairman Allan Taylor over email by Alex Johnston, founder of education reform advocacy group Conncan.
In an email to Taylor on Jan. 11, Lowney stated that her bosses, billionaire philanthropists Steve and Sue Mandel, were “focused on education reform” and helping “Bridgeport get going with meaningful school change.” She said the foundation had joined with other education funders to revise Bridgeport’s education charter and establish mayoral control of the schools. million family foundation of Sue and Steve Mandel, the founder of Lone Pine Capital in Greenwich. The emails also mention Bridgeport
Mayor Bill Finch’s involvement in the matter, though he was not included on any of the emails reviewed.
“We are very hopeful that the State Board would agree to intervene and appoint a Special Master,” wrote Lowney to the state board chairman in April. “Should the State Department of Education act to intervene, there is excellent
private partnership to be activated.”
