Natalie Pate
@nataliepategwin.bsky.social
K-12 Education Reporter and Producer at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). Journalism consultant for The Collegian @ Willamette University. Volunteer editor for Prison Journalism Project (PJP). More info: nataliepate.com.
And finally, districts across the country are facing enrollment declines and budget issues. Some are closing entire schools as a solution. I recently wrote about what was described by many as a "brutal" school closure process in Corvallis:
Declining enrollment, shrinking budget push Corvallis to consider closing schools
Corvallis is among the latest school districts to look at closing schools in light of Oregon’s education budget crisis.
www.opb.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
And finally, districts across the country are facing enrollment declines and budget issues. Some are closing entire schools as a solution. I recently wrote about what was described by many as a "brutal" school closure process in Corvallis:
2025 marked five years since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. I went into one elementary school to get a glimpse of how the students who missed out on in-person kindergarten, in particular, are doing:
Are the kids OK? A look at how a generation of COVID students is faring in Oregon
There’s been some but little recovery since the global pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. McMinnville shows there’s hope if the right support is in place.
www.opb.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
2025 marked five years since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar schools. I went into one elementary school to get a glimpse of how the students who missed out on in-person kindergarten, in particular, are doing:
The presence of ICE officials in and near school communities has been a defining element of this year so far. One district's unions tried to take preventative steps as a way to better protect its staff members:
Woodburn educators propose protections from ICE as part of their employee contract
The teachers union is looking for ways to bolster protection for staff and students amid influx of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in communities across the state.
www.opb.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The presence of ICE officials in and near school communities has been a defining element of this year so far. One district's unions tried to take preventative steps as a way to better protect its staff members:
The start of the new school year in Southwest Washington was largely defined by strained labor relations in various school districts. We tried to understand why:
Why do Southwest Washington schools seem to have more strikes?
History, relationships and news media could all play a part in the regionally clustered labor actions, experts say.
www.opb.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The start of the new school year in Southwest Washington was largely defined by strained labor relations in various school districts. We tried to understand why:
In August, I sought clarity on a potential drinking water crisis that could affect residents of Oregon's capital next year:
What to know about Salem’s water emergency and what’s being done to prevent it
A look inside the Salem water treatment facility at the heart of a major regional conversation.
www.opb.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
In August, I sought clarity on a potential drinking water crisis that could affect residents of Oregon's capital next year:
This summer, I covered @neatoday.bsky.social's annual assembly, which took place in Portland, Ore., for @npr.org:
Nation's largest teachers union gathers in Portland, Oregon
As the Trump administration continues its efforts to shrink the federal government's role in education, members of the nation's largest teachers union are gathering in Portland, Oregon.
www.npr.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This summer, I covered @neatoday.bsky.social's annual assembly, which took place in Portland, Ore., for @npr.org:
Reposted by Natalie Pate
Today's podcast episode was produced by Peter Frick-Wright. For more on how AI tools are being used in Oregon K-12 schools, check out reporting by OPB's @nataliepategwin.bsky.social & Emily Hamilton:
What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schools
Students and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harass peers.
www.opb.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Today's podcast episode was produced by Peter Frick-Wright. For more on how AI tools are being used in Oregon K-12 schools, check out reporting by OPB's @nataliepategwin.bsky.social & Emily Hamilton:
You can also read the full digital story by Tiffany Camhi and me here. More loose ends may be covered next week as the session finishes wrapping up.
School funding, college costs and book bans: What did lawmakers do for young people in Oregon’s 2025 legislative session?
K-12 school spending rose to meet anticipated costs. But child care, preschool and higher education were on the chopping block.
www.opb.org
June 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
You can also read the full digital story by Tiffany Camhi and me here. More loose ends may be covered next week as the session finishes wrapping up.
Wanna connect? Feel free to reach out here or at [email protected] with questions, comments, story tips, etc. For those who stuck with this thread, I applaud you 👏
May 22, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Wanna connect? Feel free to reach out here or at [email protected] with questions, comments, story tips, etc. For those who stuck with this thread, I applaud you 👏
Outside of journalism, I'm a published children's book author, aspiring voice-over actor and semi-pro dog snuggler to Mr. Bandit (seen here, working hard). I perform w/ local theatres + volunteer at a county dog shelter. You'll often find me exploring, guzzling coffee or with my nose in a good book.
May 22, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Outside of journalism, I'm a published children's book author, aspiring voice-over actor and semi-pro dog snuggler to Mr. Bandit (seen here, working hard). I perform w/ local theatres + volunteer at a county dog shelter. You'll often find me exploring, guzzling coffee or with my nose in a good book.
Outside my work with OPB, I also serve as the journalistic consultant for Willamette University's independent student newspaper, The Collegian. And this year will be my third summer as a mentor for the High School Journalism Institute at OSU. Student journalists are AMAZING! 🙌
While book ban attempts increase nationally, one Oregon library has kept requests low
The number of book ban requests has increased nationally by more than 128% in the last three years.
www.oregonlive.com
May 22, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Outside my work with OPB, I also serve as the journalistic consultant for Willamette University's independent student newspaper, The Collegian. And this year will be my third summer as a mentor for the High School Journalism Institute at OSU. Student journalists are AMAZING! 🙌
I try to get a varied mix of voices in my coverage, focusing on students, school staff, parents and advocates who deal with education issues every day. My goal? To make readers smarter about the issues facing their communities and to help share the experiences of those most impacted.
Six things Oregonians should think about as they vote in local school board races
An in-depth guide to help voters navigate their local school board races on the May 20 ballot.
www.opb.org
May 22, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I try to get a varied mix of voices in my coverage, focusing on students, school staff, parents and advocates who deal with education issues every day. My goal? To make readers smarter about the issues facing their communities and to help share the experiences of those most impacted.
In my nearly two years w/ OPB, I've written about a wide range of topics, including labor strikes, sexual abuse of students, state funding debates and teachers who moonlight as stand-up comedians. Lately, I've been busy w/ elections, local impacts of Trump policies, the legislative session and more.
Teachers in Oregon have found a solution for burnout: stand up comedy
Some teachers have found a way to combat classroom burnout: stand up comedy. In Oregon, the Teacher Show features professors, preschool teachers and everyone in between joking about their day jobs.
www.npr.org
May 22, 2025 at 8:24 PM
In my nearly two years w/ OPB, I've written about a wide range of topics, including labor strikes, sexual abuse of students, state funding debates and teachers who moonlight as stand-up comedians. Lately, I've been busy w/ elections, local impacts of Trump policies, the legislative session and more.