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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Milwaukee Public Schools announced in December that is has completed lead paint cleaning at 100 of its oldest schools. -
Can changes to Milwaukee's zoning code to allow accessory dwelling units, or "granny flats," help make housing more affordable? -
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) cut jobs in its multicultural center this summer, responding to pressure from the U.S. Department of Education. How do small schools with limited financial resources handle federal pressure? -
Wisconsin's Speak Up, Speak Out school safety tip line handles reports from students about everything from bullying to threats of school violence. -
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.
