I hope you're enjoying sleeping on the floor of your office in Philadelphia. I wanted to apologize for not voting for you in the Illinois primary but I was still in Philadelphia myself. I remember seeing the invitation for you to come to Philly on the front pages of the Philadelphia Daily News this past spring. I began to wonder if you did come, how long the honeymoon would last—there's a reason couples don't visit the Liberty Bell after they're married.

I was also an outsider beginning my adventure in Philly's School system. I had the same "all I need is a sleeping bag and an office" attitude you display. I left disenchanted with education and ranting like Ann Coulter's lost Puerto Rican cousin.

And while I'm glad you took the post, let me say from experience that you don't know what you're getting into. Can you compare Chicago and Philadelphia? From my experience working in the Kensington section of the city, I'd say no. David Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam's Latino outreach described North Philly to me as, "some seriously Third World shit." When Farrakhan's people are shocked about conditions people of color live in, you know it's bad.

I began teaching, writing curriculum and building research from my work with Kensington High School at the end of former Superintendent David Hornbeck's tenure. He came in with the same Palm Sunday fanfare you received in the press. He was asked to leave by your biggest advocate, Mayor John Street, because he spent all his time bickering with the state over funding. As I'm sure you know, Philadelphia schools receive only $1,000 less a student than the top-ranked Illinois district, Homewood-Flossmor and more than $2,000 more per student than Chicago. With state takeover, you will have more than $9,000 per student to work with—oh, and don't forget the $60 million of Youthworks funding for special programs in the schools. But it won't matter.

Mr. Vallas, to be successful, you have to be part of a city that wants reform and has vision. When Council people who vote a raise from $35,000 to $80,000 for themselves can still be viewed as voices of change, reform is in trouble.

Which leads me to my next piece of advice: Watch out for City Council. I know you were meeting with members individually, but Council Wars, Philly style, between Mayor Street and council is flaring like Colorado brushfire. The state takeover of the city's schools is a potential political Molotov cocktail—try not to use your head as the gas rag.

Knowing Philly, I'm a pessimist. Besides, there aren't really any neighborhoods in Philly as nice as Beverly in which a guy like you can afford a home. However, if you want inspiration, take your tent outside your office, pitch it under the Frankfort el tracks, near Kensington High School, where it looks like a shot from "Serpico." Try and understand the inner battle a teacher goes through every day in that environment, deciding if its even worth it to try and make a difference, or if they should go work in an office where it's easier to get Starbucks than heroin on the way to work. Internalize that conflict and maybe then, you'll conquer Philadelphia.

Also by Kristopher Irizarry