Ann Dornfeld
Reporter
About
Ann Dornfeld reports on issues of racial inequity for KUOW. She previously covered education for the station. Before that, Ann was a roving freelance public radio reporter, focusing on environmental issues, for KUOW and national shows including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, The Environment Report and Marketplace.
Ann has reported on a rare bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico, penguin habitat loss in South Africa, mangrove destruction in the U.S. Virgin Islands, coral reef conservation in Bonaire and invasive lionfish in the Bahamas. She covered a major earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia, for NPR News and The World. Ann also worked as a reporter and Morning Edition host at KLCC Public Radio in Eugene, Oregon, after internships at KUOW and Alaska Public Radio Network.
She got her start spinning hip-hop records at the radio station of Oregon State University, where she majored in biology and environmental sciences.
She has won awards for her reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists, The Associated Press and Public Radio News Directors Incorporated. Ann has also received both investigative and data reporting awards from the Education Writers Association for her coverage of ongoing recess cutbacks and physical education shortages in Seattle-area schools. Her photography has appeared in exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Stories
-
KUOW Newsroom
Federal probe opened into whether Seattle Schools failed special ed students during pandemic
The U.S. Department of Education has launched a probe of what it called “disturbing reports” regarding Seattle Public Schools’ alleged failure to provide specialized instruction to students with disabilities during the pandemic.
-
KUOW Newsroom
'Time for an intervention:' Seattle School Board member resigns, cites 'dysfunctional culture'
In her resignation letter, Mack said that she “can no longer participate” in a school system that she said “is not serving the students and families of Seattle.”
-
KUOW Newsroom
K-12 students can return to schools earlier than previously advised, say WA health officials
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday said recent, more lenient public health guidelines on in-person schooling could allow students to return to physical classrooms sooner than previously recommended — and without major outbreak risk.
-
KUOW Newsroom
Denise Juneau, Seattle superintendent, to leave district
Denise Juneau, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, announced on Tuesday that she will leave the district in June when her contract expires.
-
KUOW Newsroom
Seattle Special Education PTSA votes no-confidence in district after Black child was repeatedly locked in isolation
The Seattle Special Education PTSA took a vote of no-confidence in Seattle Public Schools a day after a KUOW story revealed that a student with disabilities was repeatedly locked outdoors.
-
KUOW Newsroom
Locked in ‘the cage.’ Report finds disturbing discipline measures at Seattle school
Investigators found that the principal of View Ridge Elementary School in northeast Seattle told staff to lock the gates around a second-grade boy to manage his behavior issues. District leaders called the situation “egregious” — but the district had approved of it as a suitable space for the child.
-
KUOW Newsroom
Teachers balk at returning to school as Covid cases surge in Seattle area
There have been roughly 36 coronavirus outbreaks related to schools in Washington state.
-
school abuse
Two families seek $4 million in damages after abuse by Seattle Public Schools staff
Two families have each filed $2 million tort claims against Seattle Public Schools after their children were physically abused by staff members. Both of the children are special education students, and were 7 and 9 years old when the incidents occurred.
-
Schools can prevent most Covid outbreaks without routine testing, study finds
Schools can prevent Covid outbreaks without routine testing - if they take enough other precautions and community transmission is low, finds a new report from the Institute for Disease Modeling.
-
school abuse
Seattle school security guard fired for restraining second-grader, as she screamed ‘I can’t breathe’
Seattle Public Schools has fired a security guard after finding he improperly used physical force against a 7-year-old student at Stevens Elementary School, then lied about the incident to district investigators.