Hiba Ahmad
Education ReporterHiba Ahmad covers education for St. Louis Public Radio. She’s spent most of her career working as a producer for NPR programs Weekend Edition, All Things Considered and the daily flagship podcast Up First.
Hiba is a Virginia native but is making St. Louis her home. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in broadcast journalism and is wrapping up her masters in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at George Mason University. When she’s not in a classroom or a school board meeting, she’s out exploring the city — in search of the next best place to eat. Send her some recommendations: @hiba_ahmad96 or hahmad@stlpr.org.
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Former St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Keisha Scarlett misused district funds and violated hiring protocols, according to a new report from the district. Scarlett has denied any wrongdoing -
The number of homeschooled students in Missouri has nearly doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study from St. Louis University. -
Academic performance at most public schools has improved, but attendance is not back to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report from the Missouri Department of Secondary and Elementary Education. -
St. Louis Public Schools will not close any schools during this school year, according to district officials. To repair and maintain school buildings over 20 years would cost the district $1.8 billion, according to an architecture firm that is reviewing school buildings in the district. -
The school board president for Special School District in St. Louis County has resigned. Katie Pottroff has served as president since 2023 and has been a member of the board since 2019. She said she is leaving her position to focus on her family. -
Harris-Stowe State University is no longer at risk of losing its accreditation after an independent review found the school had made improvements to help student performance.
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The Fort Zumwalt School District has announced that Henry St. Pierre will be its next superintendent. The announcement comes after its current superintendent, Paul Myer, said he planned to retire at the end of the school year. -
Students at Forsyth School in St. Louis learned about how elections work by holding an election of their own for their school mascot — Freddie the Falcon. -
A St. Charles County judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit that aimed to halt early voting without poll watchers. Director of Elections Kurt Bahr said poll watchers can observe voting on Election Day. -
Two years ago Thursday, a 19-year-old former student opened fire on students and staff at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, killing two and injuring seven before being fatally shot by police. St. Louis Public Schools holds a day of remembrance on the second anniversary of the shooting. -
The Missouri State Board of Education approved the application for Friendly Academy, a new charter school in St. Louis Public Schools. The decision comes as the school district is consolidating and closing some schools due to low enrollment and expensive maintenance on older buildings.
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After a hearing Monday, the St. Louis Board of Education voted 6-0 to terminate Scarlett's employment. The decision follows a Sept. 23 decision to end her three-year contract following an investigation into her hiring practices and other personnel decisions.
