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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Grading The Charter School Claims
This fall, voters in Washington will decide whether to legalize charter schools in the state for the first time. Washington voters have considered charters three times before. But the details of charter school funding, oversight and independence can be confusing. So we took a red pen to claims by supporters and opponents of Initiative 1240, and gave each claim a grade to see who gets to go to the head of the class – and who needs to go back and check their work.
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Special Ed In Seattle Public Schools "Atrocious," "Heartbreaking," Say Parents
Two-and-a-half years ago, KUOW brought you the story of Bridget Ambrose and her son Ryder. Ryder was in kindergarten at the time. He’s on the autism spectrum. At Ryder’s preschool, he’d gotten special education services like speech therapy and the social skills training that many kids with autism need to teach them how to interact with other kids.
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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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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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10 Donors Funded 91 Percent Of Charter Schools Campaign
The campaign to bring charter schools to Washington state has now raised more cash than any other measure on the ballot. Donors have contributed more than $8.9 million to the Yes on 1240 campaign. Of that, 91 percent came from just ten people, according to the Public Disclosure Commission website.
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Seattle Schools Chief Opposes Charter Initiative
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Jose Banda says he’ll vote “no” on Initiative 1240, which would legalize charter schools in Washington state.I-1240 would allow up to 40 charter schools in Washington state over five years. Proponents of I-1240 say it would give parents and students more school choice.But Superintendent Banda says he doesn’t see enough parents and community members supporting the initiative. Instead, campaign finance reports show that I-1240 is backed mainly by wealthy donors like Bill Gates, Paul Allen and the parents of Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos. Much of the campaign is also funded by out-of-state donors.Banda says that’s not who should bring charters to Washington. "I would hope that if a charter initiative is really what this community and what this state wants, it would be funded more grassroots or you would at least have more community and parent groups in support of it. I don’t see that so far," he says.Banda came to Seattle Schools this year from a district in Anaheim, Calif., where charters are allowed. "I think once they come in, if there’s not a clear accountability and a way to make sure that they meet the needs and the goals that they’ve set out, that there be a clear way that the charter could be revoked," he says. "And I know it’s easier said than done, having seen charters operate in California."The Seattle School Board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution opposing the charter initiative.Washington is one of nine states that don’t allow charter schools.
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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.