The Columbian • 6th December 2022

Misinformation, hateful rhetoric plagues FVRLibraries years after drag queen story hour events

For over three years, the monthly Fort Vancouver Regional Library Board of Trustees’ meetings have spiraled out of control.
Between February and December of 2019, the Vancouver Community Library held three drag queen story hours — events where performers dressed in drag read children’s storybooks featuring tales of inclusion and acceptance.

The Columbian • 4th October 2022

Support slipping for special education students in Clark County

Belle, 10, has DiGeorge syndrome — a developmental disorder that requires her to receive several special education services to help her with anything from speech pathology to remembering basic routines such as washing her hands or getting to class.

Personal Blog • 21st October 2021

The Timelessness of “Faces”

I almost cried the other day when Earl’s voice came on. And I was just driving to work. A lot of times I feel like we process stress and anxiety by indulging in familiar activities or settings. Predictable outcomes and story arcs are almost like lightning rods — there’s tension but always the knowledge that conflict will resolve itself in a given way. Like when you watch shows you’ve seen a million times. It’s therapeutic, even if the show isn’t as funny as it used to be.

The Columbian • 26th August 2024

Eight female Ridgefield school employees speak out against former superintendent

A 2023 investigation into former Ridgefield School District Superintendent Nathan McCann found he exhibited a pattern of mistreating female employees throughout his nine-year tenure, but that such behavior did not amount to a violation of Title IX.

The Columbian • 29th July 2023

Demand for early learning programs vastly outstrips supply in Clark County

A whirlwind of tiny children surrounded Jacob Myers. It was a Friday morning, and there was plenty of pent-up excitement to get out — not to mention a constant stream of bubbles in need of chasing.
Myers was one of a few dozen parents and staffers at a recent summer field day hosted by Educational Opportunities for Children and Families.

The Columbian • 26th July 2024

Critical education support staff often taking on second jobs

Stephanie Bradshaw never expected her job to be easy. Adding a second one to pay the bills hasn’t been easy either.

Personal Blog • 9th March 2022

Shigeo Sekito’s Time and Space

I had just watched the sun set over patchy hills home to the rolling suburbs beyond Oakland, California. The light no longer touched my own skin, but it still bathed nearby Mount Diablo in a deep, orange. A patient silence rang out.

The Columbian • 11th July 2024

Education exhaustion: Clark County school districts see high superintendent turnover due to fatigue, uncertainty

It’s not déjà vu: Eight of nine Clark County school districts have experienced departure of at least one superintendent since the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The rapid turnover isn’t unique to Clark County, however, according to researchers and professors studying education trends. Since the start of the 2019-2020 school year, 60.8 percent of Washington school districts have experienced at least one superintendency turnover.

The Columbian • 3rd March 2023

La Center School District updated gender policy sparks complaint with state

The debate over teachers’ ability to ask students their preferred pronouns in the La Center School District has taken a new turn, with the district updating its “gender inclusive schools” policy to involve parents in all discussions about pronoun usage and restrict such conversations in the classroom.
Asking students their preferred pronouns, according to both the policy and district Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz, is an act of “facilitating questioning gender identity or to facilitate gender t...

The Columbian • 16th December 2021

Evergreen district pays Superintendent Mike Merlino to leave

The Evergreen Public Schools Board of Directors voted to pay Superintendent Mike Merlino a year’s salary to leave the district on Thursday. Merlino, accused of misconduct, has been on paid administrative leave since Dec. 8.
Despite the allegations against him, Merlino was fired without cause. Board vice president Ginny Gronwoldt argued Thursday that doing so would be a more fiscally responsible action for the district.

The Columbian • 16th November 2022

OSPI probe: Evergreen Public Schools’ special services staff violated restraint protocols

An investigation led by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction earlier this year found that special services staff in Evergreen Public Schools had violated several state protocols regarding the use and reporting of physical restraints on students at Sunset Elementary School.

The Columbian • 3rd January 2023

Appeals court rules for Evergreen teacher who wore MAGA hat, says it falls under protected speech

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of a former Evergreen Public Schools teacher, concluding that his action to wear a “Make America Great Again” hat to school was protected speech under the First Amendment.