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.
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A fuel spill from an overturned tanker truck prompted an evacuation in a Bethlehem neighborhood early Thursday. -
Animal response workers cared for up to 5 dogs and a cat at Nitschmann Middle School as they sheltered with their people.
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The school has been locked down for four consecutive days. A statement posted on the LCTI website said state and federal authorities were investigating the reports, and false threats to the tipline would be prosecuted.
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A songwriting workshop at Broughal Middle School stems from a partnership between the Any Given Child program and Icehouse Tonight.
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Dieruff High School was dismissed early Thursday morning after receiving multiple threats of violence through Safe2Say, the district’s anonymous tip line.
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Democrat Nick Miller and Republican Dean Browning faced off for the redistricted seat that was designed to include more Latino representation.
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Allentown School District's Interim Superintendent Carol Birks is vowing to build trust with community members by holding a November community forum. She said, "Given the opportunity, I will stay in this community."
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Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and Carol Birks discussed ways to work together, and how the acting schools chief can build trust with community members.
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The 77-year-old motorist received two citations and will not face serious criminal charges in the death of teacher's aide Angela Yowakim, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office said.
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State data shows that low-income school districts are more challenging to operate, and the Allentown School District is one of them.
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The center, where access was limited because of the pandemic, has recently opened up and resumed programming.
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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.
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The annual school board reorganization is among several agenda items on the docket for Thursday night.
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Carol Birks discussed safety, learning and retention at a town hall meeting Wednesday at Hays Elementary School.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Board Director Craig Neiman, who represents Region 2, resigned due to work schedule conflicts.
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The Allentown school board names Connecticut educator Carol Birks to run the district until a new superintendent is hired.
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Community members supportive of ASD Superintendent John Stanford protested his firing by the Allentown school board Wednesday morning at the Lehigh County Courthouse. Stanford's last day on the job is Friday.
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The Allentown School District released its separation agreement with Superintendent John Stanford five days after the school board voted on it.
