Katherine Kokal
Education ReporterKatherine joined WUWM in 2025 as an education reporter covering both K-12 schools and higher education.
A native of Waukesha, Katherine grew up camping around Wisconsin in the summers and cross-country skiing and sledding in the winters. She attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism and interned for Lake Effect in 2017.
Katherine covered local government, transportation and environmental issues at The Island Packet newspaper in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina before moving to South Florida to cover education for The Palm Beach Post. She is the recipient of the 2023 Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting from the Florida Press Club for her investigation into data privacy for student athletes required to submit medical information to the state in order to play high school sports.
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Nursing programs may no longer be considered professional degrees, which would limit student loan borrowing limits. What does that mean for students? -
Last summer, a Milwaukee teacher's aide was forced to self-deport to her native country of El Salvador. Now, she and her family are trying to create a new life. -
Two Nigerian teachers moved to Milwaukee to teach in Milwaukee Public Schools. Now, changes to H-1B visas have forced the district to pause hiring international teachers. -
The Trump administration cut the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Program in March. It allowed schools to buy local farmers' food. -
A Halloween concert at the Milwaukee Art Museum featured work from composers reflecting on Día de los Muertos. -
College professors report less student participation in class, rooted in a fear of disagreement. A Marquette University program is trying to change that. -
Food assistance programs and two Head Start centers in Wisconsin are shuttered. Why kids lose the most when the government shuts down. -
MATC fired four staff in its multicultural department after threats of investigation by the Department of Education this summer. -
The Cap Times found that nearly 200 school employees were investigated for sexual misconduct and grooming. Their records are not easily accessible by the public. -
Milwaukee Public Schools will not hire new international teachers after the Trump administration made changes to the H-1B visa program.
