PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Although former D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee lost her job, Rhee has “pivoted hard and has become a national political force to be reckoned with and a significant voice among centrist Democrats (led by the President) who are pushing for major change in education,” according to Politico — urging teacher quality and high standards, fighting the “last in, first out” policy as a means of dealing with budgets.

Aside from those in centrist Democratic ranks, surprisingly she’s adviser to some of the nation’s more ambitious Republican governors, like Florida’s Rick Scott, New Jersey’s Chris Christie, and Indiana’s Mitch Daniels, who have used what they consider the deplorable current state of public education as a means of confronting teachers unions.

Republican hopefuls for the 2012 presidential nomination are “regularly dropping her name as a path to both policy credibility and Beltway buzz.”

In turn, Rhee has created a political organization, StudentsFirst, hoping to raise and spend $200 million annually to engage in policy battles with unions around the country and to provide backup to allies with money and organization for real reform. For more information, visit Politico.com.

Reported By Dr. Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio