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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Seattle School Board Says "No" To Charter Initiative
The Seattle School Board said a unanimous "no" to charter schools last night. The board members approved a resolution against Initiative 1240, which would bring up to 40 charter schools to Washington over five years.
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Insurance May Only Pay School District Fraction Of Misspent $3.1M
Seattle Public Schools’ attorney says the district will likely only get a $280,000 insurance settlement after the $3.1 million financial scandal involving former district official Silas Potter.Potter led the district’s Regional Small Business Development Program and the Small Works Roster Program. Audits released last year and this year found that as head of those programs, he authorized about $2.8 million in sketchy contracts to small businesses, construction companies and community organizations.Potter and two associates were charged with first-degree theft for allegedly funneling another $280,000 to themselves. District General Counsel Ron English says that $280,000 is the only money the district expects to receive from insurance, because it’s classified as a “loss.” The other $2.8 million is just considered “misspent,” so English says it can’t be recovered through insurance. English told the School Board Executive Committee that more money could potentially be recovered through restitution.Potter’s felony theft trial is scheduled for February. He’s scheduled to appear alongside co-defendant David A. Johnson, who allegedly benefited from fraudulent contracts Potter authorized. A second co-defendant, Lorrie Kay Sorenson, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft in June.
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Wash. Schools Chief Asks For 39 Percent Budget Increase
Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has asked for an additional $4.1 billion for basic education in his biennial budget proposal, a 39 percent increase compared to the current budget. Dorn says that’s what it’ll take for the state Legislature to fulfill its constitutional duty to fully fund K-12 education.