Natalie La Roche Pietri
Education ReporterNatalie La Roche Pietri is the education reporter at WLRN.
Before joining WLRN, Natalie interned at the Boston Globe on the Great Divide, a team dedicated to investigating race, class, and inequality in Boston-area schools.
She covered general news as an intern at the Miami Herald, and reported on camera covering politics in Washington, D.C, as an NBCU Academy Diversity, Equity and Inclusion fellow.
Natalie graduated from Florida International University with a double major in digital communications and English. She was the managing editor for Caplin News, a student media digital publication at FIU, and president of the Society of Professional Journalists at FIU.
Originally from Venezuela, Natalie grew up in Broward and speaks fluent Spanish. You can reach her at nlarochep@wlrnnews.org and follow her on X at @natalaroche.
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'Families deserve to know': District student data can be shared with charter schools, per state ruleThe data that can be shared with publicly-funded, privately-run charter schools can include academic histories, disability status and disciplinary records. Beyond the charter operator, the information may also land in the hands of third-party vendors, according to speakers at a recent virtual conference. -
Miami Dade College will soon begin to authorize new charter schools, according to a presentation reviewed by WLRN, cutting out the school district. “If it's going to be funded by public dollars, in my opinion, the public should have a method by which to hold it accountable," said Miami-Dade school board member Luisa Santos. -
Broward has 10,000 fewer students than it did last year, digging a budget hole of $94 million in the district. In five years, Broward County Public Schools is looking at a projected loss of over 25,000 students, according to district data. -
Amidst the throes of plummeting enrollment that come at a multi-million dollar financial loss, the Broward County school board analyzed a dozen proposals for multiple schools — with the superintendent set to make his recommendations regarding their future later this week. -
The Unique Abilities School Fair hosts more than 30 schools and education providers offering a wide range of resources for differing educational needs. Parents can get to know school leaders, set up personalized follow-up opportunities, campus tours and faculty meet-and-greets. -
The contentious free transfer of the undeveloped plot of land, which some estimate to be worth over $300 million, had led to a public outcry and a lawsuit that blocking the move - which prompted the college's Board of Trustees to set a second meeting, this one open to the public. -
Now investing $8.2 million dollars in Israeli-government backed bonds, FAU joins the ranks of biggest investors to the Middle East nation. Eearnings from the bonds help fund the university's Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies and other academic areas. -
The Palm Beach County School Board approved raises and a one-time bonus for the superintendent, principals, assistant principals and non-unionized district staff. -
The bill proposal from Sen. Don Gaetz comes after the Florida Auditor General concluded the state Department of Education was riddled with pitfalls in how it manages vouchers, including a shortfall of $398 million dollars for the voucher program during the 2024-2025 school year. -
The teachers union leader says the district "needs to do better" after the counter-offer ranked as the lowest in years. The district is adjusting to a budget shortfall of $40 million.
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In a unanimous vote, the Broward school board elected Sarah Leonardi as the new chairperson on Tuesday. She represents district 3, which includes Wilton Manors and Hollywood.
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Recyclepedia has created an interactive map of the county in which users can see if and how different materials can be recycled.
