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.
Salem events from May 30-June 6: Superhero fun run, women’s tackle football, illusionists
Catch a new play, magicians on stage or enjoy free music in the park over the next week in Salem.
Weapons detector pilot begins Wednesday at South
South Salem High School is piloting two weapon detector systems through the end of the school year as part of a district effort to decide if they should be installed at all middle and high schools.
Job transfers, layoffs leave some Salem school programs in lurch
School district layoffs mean Sprague High School will have its sixth theater director in as many years, something students said would be devastating. District and union leaders said it will take weeks to sort through the cascading effects of job transfers as they review hundreds of placements.
Capital Pioneers, Salem’s women’s tackle football team, undefeated as home games approach
Salem's women's tackle football team is in its fourth season, with upcoming home games at McNary High School on June 1, 8 and 15.
Meet the 12 educators honored with 2024 Crystal Apple awards
Crystal Apple winning educators organize school carnivals, volunteer to coach soccer and pick the perfect book to help a student through a tough time.
Social worker Robin Sischo is an “aura of calm” in the chaos of high school
“As long as Robin works in a school, the teenagers of the future will be in a better place,” a student wrote of the South Salem High School social worker.
Salem election results for May 21 primary
Which Hoy will be Salem's mayor? First vote counts will be posted shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
A “kid whisperer” at Chavez Elementary builds connections on and off the field
Whether he’s supervising the lunchroom or volunteering to coach soccer after school, colleagues credit Luis Oliva Barrientos with bringing calm and needed support to kids at east Salem’s Chavez Elementary School.
At Salem’s Behavior Intervention Center, a first-year teacher thrives in the chaos
Nikki Schmidgall teaches at Salem’s Behavior Intervention Center, working with five elementary school students who struggle with extreme trauma and mental illness. Her colleagues say her work has been transformative for some of the highest needs students in the district.
Los despidos se extienden por Salem-Keizer mientras 111 educadores pierden sus empleos
Los funcionarios del distrito dijeron el viernes que 111 empleados perderán sus empleos a fines de junio y cientos más fueron trasladados a una escuela o departamento diferente.