I wish we could have acted quicker on Detroit or other failing schools.

You win by working hard, making tough decisions and building coalitions.

Very few charter schools are being created in some of the best school districts in the state. If you're an educational innovator, that isn't where the greatest need is.

Believe me, I'm not going to try to get into testing.

The greatest luck that I've had has been the ability to find men and women who came into my administration who worked with me and brought extraordinary talents that we were able to take full advantage of.

We have broken the cycle of dependency. People have found out they're better off working.

I just have a position that any child that's in a failing school should be able to get out, or be in a position to have that school fixed.