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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AI company leaders are calling for a slowdown as developer from Anthropic resigns and warns of risk to humanity. How are AI researchers in Wisconsin reacting? -
What is the Wisconsin Freedom to Gather in Places of Worship During an Emergency Referendum on 2026 midterm ballots? It has to do with COVID lockdowns. -
What is the Wisconsin partial veto referendum on 2026 midterm ballots? It has to do with school funding and how Gov. Tony Evers made a 400-year veto. -
Diesel costs are impacting schools that use the fuel for school buses. How the war in Iran is impacting the cost of getting kids to school in Milwaukee. -
"First They Came For My College" explores the political takeover of New College in Florida and what it means for schools around the country. It's playing at the Milwaukee Dialogues Documentary film festival. -
Flags were waving and salsa music was roaring Sept. 12, as the Puerto Rican Festival of Wisconsin took over the Summerfest grounds. Hispanic Heritage month is Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. -
Milwaukee Public Schools and the Waukesha School District don't have air conditioning in many schools. As climate change brings heat waves, Milwaukee cancels school and kids can't learn. -
MPS cancelled school on Wednesday, Sept. 2 — the second day of the school year. Most buildings do not have central air conditioning. -
Milwaukee's first day of school is September 1, 2026. What to know about MPS teacher openings and new renovation projects on the north side. -
How do teachers in Milwaukee recover from 2025 floods that destroyed their classrooms? Inside one class at Riverside High School and how the students and teachers moved on.
