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 over 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.
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer School Board to consider St. Edward land sale, apartment tax exemption
Members of the Salem-Keizer School board during a meeting. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The Salem-Keizer School Board will consider putting the finishing touches on a land sale agreement with St. Edward Catholic Church at a Tuesday meeting. District attorneys last week…
Chemeketa to host community forums, candidate interviews for president finalists
Finalists for Chemeketa Community College president are Julie White (top left), Tod Treat (bottom left), Jessica Howard (top right), Robert Wynegar and Kimberlee Messina, who has since dropped out. Students, faculty and community members will have a chance to question…
Salem psychiatrist seeks seat on school board with platform focused on student mental health
Satya Chandragiri is running for Salem-Keizer School Board in zone 4. (Courtesy/Satya Chandragiri) As a child in India, Satya Chandragiri had a teacher who changed his life. Now, after decades working as a psychiatrist in Oregon, Chandragiri is running for…
Two Salem students chosen to represent Oregon in U.S. Senate leadership program
Justin Thach, senior at West Salem High School (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) For West Salem senior Justin Thach, moving to Oregon from New Jersey in the middle of high school was a shock. Thach, the son of Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants,…
Oregon teachers say large classes and assaults by students show need for more funding
Schirle Elementary teacher Jamie Keene, center, said she’s regularly hit by a student in her 33-person class who has trouble regulating his behavior and needs more support than staff can provide. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem teacher Jamie Keene went to…
PHOTOS: Teachers from across Oregon rally in Salem for increased funding
Portland fourth-grade teacher Nichole Watson, of Rosa Parks Elementary, said her students deserve “my undivided attention,” drawing cheers from thousands of educators at the Feb. 18 March for Our Students. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Thousands of teachers and educators from across…
St. Edward agrees to sell Salem-Keizer vacant land for $2.26 million, ending eminent domain case
Vacant land now owned by St. Edward Catholic Church will soon be part of McNary High School. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Keizer’s Catholic church has agreed to sell about six acres of land to the Salem-Keizer School District, ending a legal…
Blanchet Catholic School leaders raising $4.4 million for campus improvements
Blanchet Catholic School principal and president Bob Weber stands in the school commons, build during Blanchet’s last capital campaign. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In a bid to attract more students and remain competitive, Salem’s only Catholic secondary school is seeking millions…
After listening to a divided public, Salem-Keizer school board approves boundary changes
Teachers, parents and students packed the room to speak before a Salem-Keizer school board vote on boundary changes on Feb. 12, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) After more than two hours of public testimony from dozens of parents, teachers and students,…
Joining Salem-Keizer NAACP, Latino groups urge delay on district boundary changes
Adriana Miranda, left, answers questions about the Salem-Keizer School District’s boundary adjustment plan for NAACP President Benny Williams, right, as Superintendent Christy Perry looks on. Hours before the Salem-Keizer School Board considers adopting new school attendance boundaries, Latino community groups…