Sarah Mueller
Education reporterAn experienced journalist, I joined LehighValleyNews.com as its education reporter. I bring several years of media experience at public radio stations including NPR Illinois, WFSU Public Media and Delaware Public Media. I’ve covered state and local government, interviewing lawmakers, governors and congressional leaders. In my personal life, I’m a passionate animal lover, hiker and documentary enthusiast. A documentary for which I worked as a researcher, Fire in the Meadows, won first place at the 2022 Tallahassee Film Festival for best documentary short film. It explored the effects of an investor buying a local mobile home park, raising rents and forcing tenants out of their homes. Contact me at SarahM@lehighvalleynews.com or and subscribe to my newsletter here.
-
The district decided in October to not implement the no-cost meals -
The city removed the check box after concerns were raised over whether the question of legal status was overly intrusive and whether it could be discouraging requests.
-
The center, where access was limited because of the pandemic, has recently opened up and resumed programming.
-
Alleged unauthorized spending sparked the concept of the possible need, and forensic audits are typically done when there are specific allegations of misconduct, according to the district's solicitor and business manager. At least one school board member voiced early opposition to the audit.
-
The annual school board reorganization is among several agenda items on the docket for Thursday night.
-
Carol Birks discussed safety, learning and retention at a town hall meeting Wednesday at Hays Elementary School.
-
Students at Lehigh Valley school districts and across the state are continuing a downward trend of performing below pre-pandemic levels on state standardized tests.
-
Members of the group called for a review of library books and a policy banning transgender athletes, and they questioned white privilege and bias training.
-
Newly-elected Lehigh Valley State Sen. Jarett Coleman has dropped a lawsuit he filed last year against the Parkland School District that sought to invalidate teacher pay raises. The trial over Sunshine Act breaches was scheduled to take place this week.
-
The Board has approved a contract for the services of retired Judge Emil Giordano to conduct an unspecified investigation in the Bethlehem Area School District.
-
Groups that represent the district's majority-minority population are crying foul over what they describe as a lack of transparency and involvement in the process of identifying a new leader.
-
As interest in the education field continues to decline, the report recommends systemic changes. A hearing of the state Senate Education Committee to examine the issue is set for this week.
-
The city says by reducing the number of sponsored concerts at West Park, programmers will be able to include other bands in more neighborhoods.
-
Liz Bradbury has been an LGBTQ activist in the Lehigh Valley for more than 30 years.
-
As the region diversifies, relations across racial groups are seen as a key element of quality of life. A new survey finds overall ratings as mostly positive, but different age groups rate the state of race relations differently.
-
The 4-month-old Lab was specially trained as an emotional support animal.
-
A crowd gathered — and cheered — as Luani the otter at Lehigh Valley Zoo made his Super Bowl LVII pick during the 12th annual Otter Bowl a day before the big game between the Eagles and Chiefs.
-
Parents aren't the only ones frustrated. One bus driver says students acting out causes drivers to quit, creating high turnover rates. A number of school districts are negotiating new bus driver contracts.
-
Some students say they see parallels between Till's murder and recent killings of people of color by police. They participated in a Black History Month presentation at Dieruff High School.
-
Kimberly Lipsky Weidman reads her book to kids at Muhlenberg Elementary School.
-
Some districts say it's a constant struggle to staff the positions.
-
The center was the target of attacks on drag shows
