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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Education
These teens are turning guns into gardening tools
Teenagers in Burien are picking up guns – and turning them into gardening tools. The blacksmithing project is part of a summer program for at-risk youth run by the organization Choose 180. KUOW education reporter Ann Dornfeld brings us this audio postcard.
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Education
When anxious kids won't go to school, what should parents and schools do?
Most kids have days when they just don’t feel like going to school. But what happens when kids straight-up refuse to go? Psychologists say that’s a problem that seems to be on the rise.
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Arts & Life
A funeral for 302 people: King County lays to rest indigent remains
The King County Medical Examiner's Office held a funeral for 302 indigent people at a cemetery in Renton Wednesday.
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Education
Citizens file suit over controversial Seattle Schools science curriculum
A citizens’ group has filed suit to stop the Seattle School District from adopting its new science materials following a yearlong curriculum selection process.
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Education
Denise Juneau, Seattle’s new schools chief, reflects on her first year
This is the last day of classes in Seattle Public Schools, and the end of the first school year for Superintendent Denise Juneau. KUOW spoke with Juneau about what she’s proud of from her first year on the job - and her goals for next school year.
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Education
How a treasured Seattle school devolved into chaos
Fourth- and fifth-graders smoking the bathroom. Kids attacking each other ... and their teachers. Students afraid to walk home from school.
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Education
Drag Queen Story Hours come to King County, but not without complaints
A group of citizens is objecting to the King County Library System’s Drag Queen Story Hour.
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Education
Native leaders protest Seattle Schools' decision to cut ties with program for Indigenous youth
The Urban Native Education Alliance's 12-year-old Clear Sky after-school program provides tutoring, mentorship, cultural lessons, and leadership and civic engagement training to Seattle's Indigenous youth.
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Health
Critics question ethics of study on marijuana during pregnancy
The University of Washington is reevaluating the ethics of an upcoming study of the effects of marijuana on unborn babies.
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Education
Parents react to sudden closure of Kent charter school
Families are scrambling to pick up the pieces - and figure out what went wrong - after Excel Public Charter School and Destiny Charter Middle School, both part of the multi-state Green Dot charter chain, announced they are shutting down this month due to low enrollment .