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.
Student test scores stagnant in Salem, across Oregon
Just one quarter of Salem third-graders tested proficient in English last spring. District leaders said they're focused on improving curriculum, training teachers and promoting attendance to change course.
Intensive kids’ mental health treatment program opens north of Salem
A former elementary school in rural Marion County is now home to a treatment center that mixes health care and school. The project, years in the making, was spearheaded by Salem-Keizer School District leaders.
UPDATE: Report of armed student outside West Salem HS prompts lockdown
Police said Friday afternoon that five West Salem schools went into lockdown due to reports of a student with a gun near West Salem High School. They didn’t confirm whether the student was actually armed or if they were arrested.
South senior raises thousands to support arts education
Kaylee Schulte ran a booth at the Salem Art Fair selling donated paintings to raise over $2,500 for arts programs for kids. Salem’s public elementary schools don’t offer art classes.
New leader brings passion, experience to Willamette Valley Visitors Association
Tori Middelstadt wants to help the Willamette Valley attract visitors for wine, sports and the outdoors, while benefitting the people who live here.
Education department delays public release of student test scores
Officials at the Oregon Department of Education told school leaders this week that they need more time to make “accessible data visualizations” of test score data and don’t yet have a timeline for public release of the information.
Taste the latest from Salem’s food entrepreneurs at Friday market
Ola Elkanah’s packaged African spices and meals make it easy to bring West African staples to life at home. Her business, Flourish Spices, is one of 20 participating in an evening market at Chemeketa Community College to show off Oregon food entrepreneurs.
Robot-worked nursery, Fly Salem among mid-Valley efforts honored for economic development
SEDCOR, the region’s economic development nonprofit, on Wednesday recognized businesses, partnerships and people who have contributed to more than $178 million in investment coming to the Salem area over the past year.
Meet the South, McKay seniors advising the Salem-Keizer School Board
Sofia Castellanos and Kaiden Armstead are the fifth group of student advisers to sit on the school board since the role was established in late 2020. They hope to keep students better informed about decisions being made while elevating their peers’ concerns to district leaders.
Safe Routes program grows to empower Salem kids to walk, bike to school
With an enthusiastic coordinator helping lead events, more kids in Salem's schools are getting bike lessons, pedestrian safety education and lessons on riding Cherriots buses through the Safe Routes to Schools program.