One man down, DOE reshuffles its bureacracy

The Department of Education is rearranging its ranks following the immigration of Chancellor Joel Klein’s top deputy Chris Cerf to the mayor’s reelection campaign.

In a memo to colleagues, Klein lays out the DOE’s new landscape, noting that it’s on an “interim basis,” though Cerf has not said he’ll return to the department.

John White, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Portfolio Planning, will serve as the Interim Acting Deputy Chancellor for Strategy and Innovation. White has overseen various space fights between charter schools and district schools throughout the city, prompting Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to declare that he has (or had) “the worst job — ever.” Debra Kurshan, who is currently the Senior Director of Portfolio Planning, will take on some of White’s previous responsibilities.

Micah Lasher, a key player in Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to get mayoral control renewed this summer, is also changing jobs. His new title is Interim Acting Executive Director of External Affairs and, for what that means in plainer English, see the memo below: