Exploring the Teacher Narrative

EWA's Public Editor Linda Perlstein, the author of two books chronicling a year at different schools, moderates this panel that explores how education reporters can enhance their reporting with artful writing. Joining the panel are New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter Sarah Carr, who recently published a series about a special education teacher's first year on the job, and Boston Globe reporter Tracy Jan who followed the principal and several students at English High School, which had one last chance to improve or face being shut down.

The reporters provide practical advice about reconstructing scenes they didn't witness, organizing their notes, writing a series over time and dealing with the potential fallout from sources who don't like the end result.

This panel was part of EWA's regional seminar on teacher quality, "Teaching to a New Nation," held Sept. 19-20 at Chicago Public Radio. About 35 reporters from across the country attended the seminar.