Blythe Bernhard

St. Louis

Education Reporter at St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis Post-Dispatch education reporter, accidentally named my kids Bill & Ted. #vegasborn #roguereporter

Featured in: Favicon

stltoday.com Favicon

sfgate.com Favicon

smh.com.au Favicon

usnews.com Favicon

chicagotribune.com Favicon

seattletimes.com Favicon

miamiherald.com Favicon

washingtontimes.com Favicon

ocregister.com Favicon

military.com + 115 more

Articles

High school seniors commit to skilled trades at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis

6 days ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — The event had all the makings of a typical college signing day — lots of cameras, proud families and new baseball caps for the future students. But the high school seniors weren’t committing to play sports. They’ll instead be getting an education and job training in the skilled trades. Ranken Technical College hosted the celebration Thursday for more than 40 incoming students and their families at the campus in the Lewis Place neighborhood.
Fired first-grade teacher sues Archdiocese of St. Louis for breach of contract

1 week ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A former teacher is suing the Archdiocese of St. Louis for breach of contract after she was fired from Immaculate Conception of Dardenne school three months into the academic year. Sharon Nicholas was hired last July as a first-grade teacher at the Catholic parish school in Dardenne Prairie, which is also named as a defendant in the case. Her termination letter states she was fired for classroom management and lack of effective instructions.
Missouri education officials seek to recover $32.8 million in canceled federal funds

1 week ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri education officials will seek to recover $32.8 million in canceled pandemic aid that was awarded to math and literacy coaches, mental health services and other programs in schools statewide. States were notified in March that the U.S. Department of Education would not honor deadline extensions granted by the Biden administration to spend the remainder of COVID relief funds approved by Congress to help schools and students recover from the lasting impacts of the pandemic.
Voters opt for change in St. Louis-area school board races

2 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard |Monica Obradovic

ST. LOUIS — Antionette “Toni” Cousins will lead one final meeting of the St. Louis Board of Education after losing her reelection bid to three newcomers. Brian Marston, Karen Collins-Adams and Allisa (AJ) Foster are expected to be sworn in April 22. Cousins, the board’s president, finished the race in fourth place after a tumultuous year overseeing St. Louis Public Schools.
Early results show St. Louis Public Schools president running a distant fourth

2 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — Early voting results show incumbent Antionette “Toni” Cousins running a distant fourth in the race for three seats on the St. Louis Board of Education. Karen Collins-Adams is the early frontrunner with 18% of the absentee vote, followed by Brian Marston with 17% and Allisa (AJ) Foster with 12%. Cousins, the board president, has 9%.
Kairos charter school in St. Louis on probation for financial mismanagement

2 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — Kairos Academies charter school is on probation for financial distress that threatens the school’s future, according to its sponsor. The Missouri Charter Public School Commission “is concerned that (Kairos) may not have sufficient funds on hand to meet its financial obligations through the end of FY2024-25 or to successfully operate school in FY2025-26,” reads a letter of concern Friday from Robbyn Wahby, executive director.
Read the survey of St. Louis Public Schools staff

2 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — The prevailing theme of a staff survey at St. Louis Public Schools is love for the job but not the leadership. “The current climate and culture of our district is not good. Those at the top have made working in SLPS miserable. This is not a collaborative space, and teammates do not feel seen, valued, or heard,” reads one response. The survey of 1,755 teachers, principals and staff was released in February and obtained by the Post-Dispatch through a public records request.
Embattled St. Louis school board president fights to retain control

2 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — The race for three open seats on the St. Louis Board of Education boils down to a referendum on the one held by Antionette “Toni” Cousins, the only incumbent running for reelection. Cousins, the board president, commands a four-member majority on most votes as St. Louis Public Schools faces multiple academic, financial and leadership challenges. The district is led by its fourth superintendent in three years.
St. Louis Public Schools docked for failing to submit financial audit

3 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

ST. LOUIS — For the second straight year, St. Louis Public Schools has failed to submit its annual financial audit on time. State law requires school districts to be audited each fiscal year by third-party contractors. When a district misses the Dec. 31 deadline, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education withholds state funding until the audit is submitted. The district will also be docked 1% on its annual performance report that the state uses to determine accreditation levels.
Voters to decide on keeping four-day school week in Jefferson County district

3 weeks ago | stltoday.com | Blythe Bernhard

CRYSTAL CITY — Voters in the Crystal City School District will decide Tuesday whether to keep a four-day week for the next decade. Crystal City switched to a four-day schedule in fall 2020. The Jefferson County district’s 517 students attend school Tuesdays through Fridays with an extra 45 minutes each day for academic interventions. On Mondays, educational aides provide free day care for elementary students. Teachers receive professional development training one Monday a month.