NYC schools chief to join News Corp.; magazine exec to lead schools

New York City's reform-minded schools chancellor has announced he will step down and be replaced by magazine executive Cathie Black, who has no experience in the education sector.

Black, chairwoman of Hearst Magazines, will now head up the nation's largest school district. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference Tuesday that her experience managing people and succeeding as an executive will be an asset to the schools. She inherits a sometimes uncomfortable relationship with the teachers union, which objects to the expansion of charter schools in the city.

Time education columnist Andrew Rotherham points out on Twitter that Black has experience laying off staff, which may come in handy if New York's budget crisis continues and education funding is cut.

Joel Klein, who also had no prior experience in education, will finish his eight-year tenure and join News Corp., Fox News' parent company, as a vice president, where he''ll work on education-related issues.

There's been high turnover among big-city schools executives lately. Last month, D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee resigned, and last week, Chicago's head of schools also hung up his hat. Both were appointed by mayors whose terms were ending.

(Photo of Black: AP)