JOURNALISM
Stories That Matter
As a journalist, I worked hard to produce fair and accurate reporting that set the agenda on key issues. Through investigative pieces, in-depth features and more, my mission was simple: tell the truth and serve the community.
Reactions to My Work
“As a fiduciary who was asked to approve it, I shouldn’t be hearing about it from an investigative reporter.”
“It frustrates me a little bit to find this stuff out in the newspaper ... the General Assembly needs to do a better job of digging into contracts.”
“It is pretty astounding this happened without being in the public light.”
Investigations
The Pa. agency that looks for wasteful spending wasted $160,000 on guns and ammo it can’t use // Spotlight PA
Pa. teachers’ pensions are invested in a NYC skyscraper linked to Jared Kushner, but they probably don’t know it // Spotlight PA
Virginia Beach board member's business with schools raises questions // The Virginian-Pilot
School Board member plans to cut business ties with Virginia Beach schools after Pilot investigation // The Virginian-Pilot
From lewd text messages to sexual abuse: The top reason Virginia educators lose their teaching licenses // The Virginian-Pilot
Review: Which school board members have the worst attendance in Allegheny County? // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
EDITORIAL: Truant board members: Want to serve on a school board? Show up // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Why are some banned Pa. educators still collecting pensions? // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
EDITORIAL: Forfeiture for good reason: Diminish pensions for disgraced public servants // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Emails reveal internal struggle over North Allegheny security consultant's Facebook posts // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Good moral character? In Pa., drunken driving and other crimes don't mean you can't teach // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Email exchange reveals rifts on West Mifflin Area school board over embattled superintendent // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
EDITORIAL: Muzzling the public: West Mifflin board gets poor grade for civics // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Survey shows Landstown High staffers complained about principal before removal // The Virginian-Pilot
Features
Woodland Hills, a district scarred by violence, copes with tragedy // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Antwon Rose II told friends he was getting out of Rankin. He never got the chance // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
After Tree of Life attack, holocaust teachers believe educators can do more to prevent hate crimes // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Squirrel Hill Synagogue Massacre: Remembering the Victims // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Walking the line between consequences and trust: School officials seek discipline that is fair // Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Press
'I owe Springfield a lot': SHS grad, part of Pulitzer Prize-winning team to address event // State Journal-Register
Knox’s alumni journalist chronicle COVID-19 crisis // Knox College
Springfield native Matt McKinney shares in Pulitzer Prize // State Journal-Register
Knox Senior Lands Journalism Internship and Front-Page Story // Knox College
A Strong Foundation
In March 2024, I had the honor of delivering a keynote to the Springfield (Ill.) Public Schools Foundation on the power of great teachers. Mine emphasized reading, writing, and current events — even allowing me to skip class to cover an Illinois governor’s impeachment for our student newspaper. Together, they inspired me to pursue a career in journalism, public affairs, and communications. Read more here.