New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has selected Cami Anderson, a top New York City schools official, to lead the state-run Newark Public School system, according to several people with knowledge of the selection.

Ms. Anderson, 39 years old, will attempt to reform the largest and one of the most troubled public school systems in the state, a district that is the focal point for Mr. Christie’s education policy. Newark has about 38,000 students, and only half of them graduate from high school in four years.

From today’s Wall St. Journal.

Also, for more praise for the Anderson pick, check out Andrew Rotherham’s column from US News and World Report (he links to it today on Eduwonk) and Whitney Tilson’s blog, which has more links to Anderson’s educational leadership.