Ann Dornfeld
Reporter
About
Ann is a reporter on KUOW's Investigations team. Previously, she covered education stories for KUOW for a decade, with a focus on investigations into racial and socioeconomic inequities.
Her ongoing series exposing Seattle Public Schools’ lenient discipline of staff who abused students has won investigative reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and the Education Writers Association. She was also lauded for her years of work covering disparities in the amount of recess and P.E. time students received in low-income schools.
Previously, Ann worked at Alaska Public Radio Network in Anchorage, and KLCC in Eugene, Oregon. Her freelance work, focusing on science and environmental issues, has appeared on national outlets including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Marketplace and The World.
Ann’s marine and underwater photography has appeared in the American Museum of Natural History and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
She lives with her husband and two children in South Seattle.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors
Stories
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Washington Charter School Commissioners To Be Announced This Week
The first members of Washington state’s new Charter School Commission are due to be appointed Wednesday. The commission will be able to approve some of
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Sequester Slashes Washington Head Start, K-12 Funding
At least 1,000 children could be kicked out of Head Start programs in Washington due to the automatic federal budget cuts that began today.
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Proposed Law Would Require Wash. Schools To Enroll Students In AP Classes
High school Advanced Placement (AP) classes have traditionally been the domain of academically strong students who want an extra challenge. Now Washington
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District Grants Policy Waivers To Allow Seattle Schools More Flexibility
The Seattle School Board has approved " Creative Approach " policy waivers at six schools.The new system lets a school apply for waivers to district
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MAP Test Finally Given At Garfield High, But Few Students Show Up
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda directed administrators at Garfield High School to give the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test
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Seattle Voters Consider $1.25 Billion Schools Levies
For the past 17 years, Seattle voters have approved every school levy that has come before them. Seattle Public Schools officials hopevoters will now
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District Threatens Suspensions, Seattle Teachers Continue Test Boycott
The Seattle School District warned teachers Wednesday they face a 10 day suspension without pay if they refuse to give students the Measures of Academic
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District May Suspend Teachers Who Won't Give MAP Test
The Seattle School District announced Wednesday that teachers may be suspended for 10 days without pay if they fail to give students the Measures of
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Nonprofit Brings Support – And Pressure – To Seattle Schools
Clarification: This story has been changed to clarify School Board President Kay Smith-Blum’s thoughts on educational delivery models, including one
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Orca K-8 Teachers Join MAP Test Boycott
Teachers at Orca K-8 school in Seattle say they will boycott the same standardized test that Garfield High School teachers came out against last week.Orca teacher Matt Carter says 11 teachers at the alternative school are refusing to give their students the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test. "Almost everybody signed a letter of support for the Garfield staff, and most of the kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers also have pledged to refuse to give the MAP test," Carter said. Most of the sixth- through eighth-grade teachers wanted to boycott, too, Carter said, but teachers in those grades need MAP test results to qualify for a city math teaching grant.Many teachers call the MAP test a waste of instructional time. The district requires most students to take the test up to three times a year in reading and math. District officials say the test is aligned with state and district curricula, but protesting teachers disagree.Union representatives from public schools across Seattle voted almost unanimously Monday night to urge the district not to discipline any teachers who refuse to give the MAP test. The representatives also called for the district to stop giving the test.In a letter to district employees Monday, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Jose Banda said the MAP test is useful for measuring students' academic growth over time. But he said beginning next month, he'll invite teachers to take part in a formal review of the test's effectiveness. Banda said that will be the appropriate venue for teachers to share concerns, and to have an in-depth discussion about the test.