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 SPOTLIGHT: McKay High School’s budding engineer looks to technology to help others
Lesly Rojas, McKay High School Class of 2021 (Courtesy photo) Lesly Rojas had never touched a motherboard when a friend invited her to an engineering club meeting in seventh grade. Before long, Rojas built a prosthetic arm. “It was an…
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Seniors pay tribute to a year of resilience with award-winning video game design
Caleb Fowler, a video game design and animation student at the Salem-Keizer Career Technical Education Center, instructs Superintendent Christy Perry as she plays “Somebody,” a prototype game a team of seniors built (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Last year, Rezi Galvan wrote…
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: With a toddler at home and Covid disrupting her classes, Sara Miranda persevered
Sara Miranda sits with daughter Katalina Miranda Hernandez outside of the Roberts Teen Parent Program on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) When Sara Miranda’s high school classes moved online last spring because of Covid, she didn’t participate. Then…
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Sprague artist draws on the human brain for inspiration
Mei Tate, a graduating senior at Sprague High School, poses for a photo on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Mei Tate knew exactly what to do with the $100 gift card she won in an art contest her…
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: A success in the classroom, Hernandez Escobar also succeeded as a student leader
Monserrat Hernandez Escobar, North Salem High School Class of 2021 (Courtesy photo) Monserrat Hernandez Escobar knew many classmates at North Salem High School had fears this spring about resuming in-person classes. Some were anxious after a year with little social…
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: West Salem High School senior turns passion for business into suicide prevention
Anthony Broncheau, a graduating senior at West Salem High School poses for a photo on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Anthony Broncheau’s business teacher remembers him as a “very shy, very timid” freshman when he started classes at…
With 30 National Guard members, help is on the way for Oregon State Hospital’s staffing crisis
Sgt. 1st Class Dugald Campbell, of the Oregon National Guard, poses for a photo in his mask. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Members of the Oregon National Guard are heading to the Oregon State Hospital next week, undergoing training before…
School proves tough into spring – 4 in 10 local high schoolers get an F
More than 4,600 Salem-Keizer high school students – about 39% of the total – failed at least one class during the second and third quarters of the school year. That’s slightly worse than the first quarter, when about one in…
Liberal candidates sweep Salem-Keizer School Board in unofficial final results, but zone 3 race headed for recount
A stack of counted and signed ballot envelopes at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) An unofficial final vote tally in the Salem-Keizer School Board races on Wednesday showed a liberal sweep of the…
West Salem HS expansions mean more space for fire science, parking
Denisa Kraynick, center, overturns a shovel full of dirt during the groundbreaking at West Salem High School on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem’s newest high school will be expanded starting this summer with a $34.5 million construction…