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
School districts grapple with coronavirus closure decisions - and what comes next for kids
After new recommendations from public health officials to avoid large gatherings, some Seattle-area parents are asking why more schools aren’t being closed to avoid the spread of coronavirus – and what will happen if and when schools do close for long stretches.
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3rd teacher removed from classroom following KUOW investigation
Martin McGowan, a first-grade teacher at West Woodland Elementary who had been disciplined for abuse including yanking kids’ ears and grabbing their necks, has been put on leave.
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Ear-pulling. Neck-grabbing. A Seattle first-grade teacher is under state investigation and still in the classroom
A West Woodland Elementary School teacher has been disciplined at least three times for hurting students over the last 14 years.
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AUDIO: A Seattle teacher threatens his students
In an audio recording provided to KUOW, former Meany Middle School math teacher James Johnson told his algebra class he had just punched a student in the face.
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Seattle teacher abuse: What two school principals knew
Seattle school principals can play a role in furthering abuse in the classroom by accepting and protecting teachers at their schools who are known to abuse kids.
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KUOW teacher abuse investigation 'has shaken so many of us to the core,' says Seattle Schools superintendent
A week after KUOW revealed that Seattle Schools has let abusive teachers return to the classroom, the superintendent called the matter "not acceptable." Many parents say her response is insufficient.
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Seattle parents outraged by teacher abuse revelations, but superintendent remains silent
Seattle parents are calling for Superintendent Denise Juneau to address revelations that the district let abusive teachers return to the classroom, sometimes after multiple incidents of misconduct.
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Seattle middle school students descend on principal’s office, demand teacher be removed
On Friday morning at Washington Middle School, the school was buzzing about a KUOW news report that math teacher James Johnson had a long history of documented sexual harassment and physical abuse of students — including punching a student in the face at nearby Meany Middle School in 2018.
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Education
School investigating additional allegations against Seattle teacher following KUOW report
Following KUOW's investigations into teachers who kept their jobs after documented abusive behavior, students at one Seattle school attempted to report even more complaints.
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Kent teacher tweeted racist, bigoted messages and was allowed to stay in the district
Things did not feel right in teacher Rafaela Kayryakoff’s first-grade classroom at Meridian Elementary School in Kent.