Rachel Alexander
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
School in the fall will include face masks, smaller classes and online learning for some students
Students get off the bus for the first day of school at Bush Elementary. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem schools can resume in-person classes in the fall, but students should expect to see smaller classes, bus drivers wearing masks and logs…
Salem-Keizer Education Foundation to dissolve, transferring many programs to YMCA
The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation is dissolving after almost 40 years serving thousands of students in the Salem area through mentoring programs, youth sports and after-school activities. A near-total loss of revenue over the past three months as local schools have…
Principal Sara LeRoy leaving North Salem High School after large gains in graduation rate
Sara LeRoy, North Salem High School principal (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) For the second time in four years, North Salem High School will start the year with a new principal. Sara LeRoy, a former North teacher who took over…
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer board will consider 2020-21 budget at June 9 meeting
The Salem-Keizer School Board will vote Tuesday night on a $1.5 billion district budget that’s unlikely to become reality when school kicks off in September. The budget, developed before coronavirus-related shutdowns pummeled state revenue, contains none of the cuts that…
How will distance learning impact Salem-Keizer students? No one really knows.
Jared Vergara Santana, left, Evelyn Francis, right, Iris Johnson, right back and Lillyana Green, back left, work on newspaper articles at Hoover Elementary School. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In late May, about 10 teachers and classroom aides from Judson Middle School…
After a week of protests, thousands plan to attend Salem’s Saturday march for George Floyd
Protesters march to the Capitol for a rally and vigil on Monday June, 1. The event was the third day of protests against police violence in Salem. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Saturday could be the biggest march yet in a week…
For black Salemites, recent protests highlight longtime concerns over racial profiling and equity
Zack Jackson speaks to protestors on the Oregon State Capitol steps during the third night of demonstrations against police violence on Monday, June 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Five days of protests and marches over the death of George Floyd have…
Local data shows scattered new COVID-19 cases in past week, but no large outbreaks
Andrea Davila, a nurse at the Kaiser Permanente North Lancaster clinic administers a test for COVID-19 at the clinic’s drive-thru testing site on Wednesday, April 29. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Marion County has so far avoided large spikes in residents with…
Hundreds gather for vigil, march in third night of Salem protests over George Floyd’s death
Protestors gathered at the Oregon State Capitol and marched to the site of the new Salem Police Department during the third night of demonstrations against police violence on Monday, June 1. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Zack Jackson stood on the steps…
Latino groups push for improved bilingual education, mental health support in budget
Students organized by Latinos Unidos Siempre urged the new Salem-Keizer School Board to address the mental health needs of immigrant students and stop policies that disproportionately punish students of color at a July 2019 meeting. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Latino community…