Kristen Graham
@newskag.bsky.social
Philadelphia Inquirer education reporter, Pulitzer Prize winner covering Philadelphia public schools. Phillies superfan. Always learning. Reach out: kgraham@inquirer.com. Recent work: https://www.inquirer.com/author/graham_kristen_a/
Pinned
Kristen Graham
@newskag.bsky.social
· Nov 22
Tear gas, then handcuffs: I am an Inquirer journalist who was arrested for doing my job
Without signs, barricades, or prior directions, there was no way for me to know I was in the wrong spot, but I quickly turned around. Less than a minute later, two officers walked toward me. They put ...
www.inquirer.com
Tear gas, then handcuffs: I did my job as a @inquirer.com reporter, then got arrested. (This is a historical post for who-the-heck-is-this-journalist purposes, cut-and-paste from my archives - this is not new news!) Here's my 2020 story: www.inquirer.com/news/george-...
Super busy #PHLed day - pre-meeting rally, now a school board meeting. Follow along! www.inquirer.com/education/li...
Parents, educators, and organizers expected to sound off on proposed school closures at first Philly school board action meeting of 2026
Before the meeting Thursday, dozens of community members rallied outside the school district building to protest closings.
www.inquirer.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Super busy #PHLed day - pre-meeting rally, now a school board meeting. Follow along! www.inquirer.com/education/li...
Tough day inside many #phled buildings. www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly schools reopened Thursday. Some students returned to snowbanks, burst pipes and frigid classrooms
“It’s a mess,” said a staffer at Mitchell Elementary, in Southwest Philadelphia. The school had no running water or school lunches.
www.inquirer.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Tough day inside many #phled buildings. www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Virtual instruction day for #PHLed tomorrow, w/offices closed. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly schools virtual for Tuesday, and here’s what other districts are doing as road conditions remain iffy
Philadelphia city offices and courts will be closed Tuesday. The Philadelphia School District will have a virtual instruction day as the region continues to dig out of a significant snow storm.
www.inquirer.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Virtual instruction day for #PHLed tomorrow, w/offices closed. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Snow day, #PHLed! www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philadelphia schools will be closed Monday because of snow; others will likely follow
“Sledding is appropriate. Snow angels are appropriate, and [Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel] gave us permission to have one or two safe and fun snowball fights," the superintendent said.
www.inquirer.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Snow day, #PHLed! www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
20 #PHLed schools would close, 6 would co-locate, and 159 get upgrades under the long-awaited facilities master plan proposed by Supt. Watlington today. More: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly could close 20 schools, co-locate 6, and modernize 159: Superintendent Watlington shares his facilities plan
The 10-year blueprint comes with a $2.8 billion price tag, $1 billion of which would be covered by district capital funds. The rest would depend on philanthropy or state funds.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:31 PM
20 #PHLed schools would close, 6 would co-locate, and 159 get upgrades under the long-awaited facilities master plan proposed by Supt. Watlington today. More: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
From the #PHLed special school board action meeting - the district is now moving forward with possibly transferring vacant buildings to the city, but not everyone agrees with the action. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/va...
Philly’s school board will explore giving its vacant schools to the city, though some object
One board member worried that the action "limits us to exploring the conveyance of our school buildings to the city without financial compensation" when the district is facing a deficit.
www.inquirer.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:49 PM
From the #PHLed special school board action meeting - the district is now moving forward with possibly transferring vacant buildings to the city, but not everyone agrees with the action. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/va...
Attention, #PHLed watchers: a judge's ruling in a charter-school case has called into question Joyce Wilkerson's seat on the school board. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/jo...
A Philly judge’s ruling in a charter case has called into question Joyce Wilkerson’s seat on the school board
People for People Charter and KIPP North Philadelphia sued the Philadelphia school board over its votes to non-renew the schools.
www.inquirer.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Attention, #PHLed watchers: a judge's ruling in a charter-school case has called into question Joyce Wilkerson's seat on the school board. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/jo...
Welcome to the new AMY at James Martin, a brand-new #phled MS in Port Richmond. That’s the sounds of a HS of the Future jazz combo, welcoming folks in.
December 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Welcome to the new AMY at James Martin, a brand-new #phled MS in Port Richmond. That’s the sounds of a HS of the Future jazz combo, welcoming folks in.
From the #PHLed school board meeting: a new contract - and 12% raises over 4 years - for CASA, declarations of support for educators in the crosshairs of a Congressional investigation, and board president & VP elections. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly principals get raises; some defend educators in the crosshairs of a congressional investigation: school board roundup
The school board on Thursday night reelected its president and vice president, approved a new contract for principals, and more.
www.inquirer.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
From the #PHLed school board meeting: a new contract - and 12% raises over 4 years - for CASA, declarations of support for educators in the crosshairs of a Congressional investigation, and board president & VP elections. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
CASA, #PHLed's principals' union, has a new contract. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly principals’ union has a tentative contract
Nearly 1,000 Philadelphia principals, assistant principals, climate managers and other workers will get pay raises if they approve a tentative four-year pact.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
CASA, #PHLed's principals' union, has a new contract. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
It's been nearly 3 months without a contract for #PHLed principals. They can't strike, but they are ratcheting up the pressure. Notes from the school board mtg: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly principals, working without a contract for months, demand action: school board roundup
Superintendent Tony B. Watlington told the school board he needed more time to present a facilities plan. "We’re committed to not fumbling the football on the 2-yard line,” he said.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
It's been nearly 3 months without a contract for #PHLed principals. They can't strike, but they are ratcheting up the pressure. Notes from the school board mtg: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
It's #PHLed school board meeting day! Follow along here: www.inquirer.com/education/li...
At Philly school board meeting, concerns could bubble up over the school closing process and principals working without contracts
The Philly school board is hosting its monthly action meeting, which began at 4 p.m. Follow live coverage from reporter Kristen A. Graham.
www.inquirer.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
It's #PHLed school board meeting day! Follow along here: www.inquirer.com/education/li...
Should you ever feel down on life, I highly recommend interviewing #PHLed students about almost anything. Exhibit 3,293: food criticism of school lunches. www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philly students got to be food critics, and their reviews of school lunches ranged from ‘mid’ to ‘bussin’’
Hundreds of Philly public school students got to taste test dishes that might be added to their school lunches next year. Vendors came to offer samples to the student taste testers.
www.inquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Should you ever feel down on life, I highly recommend interviewing #PHLed students about almost anything. Exhibit 3,293: food criticism of school lunches. www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Hey! It's #PHLed board hearing today - not an action meeting, but a listening session. Follow along here: www.inquirer.com/education/li...
Philly school board will hear from public on potential school closings, wellness policy, and more
The Philly school board is hosting a public hearing, which began at 4 p.m. Follow live coverage from reporter Kristen A. Graham.
www.inquirer.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Hey! It's #PHLed board hearing today - not an action meeting, but a listening session. Follow along here: www.inquirer.com/education/li...
Interrupting your election day for some #PHLed news - the facilities master planning process timeline has been pushed back. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
Philadelphia school closure decisions have been delayed
Instead of releasing a facilities master plan in November finalizing it in December, a survey will go out to families this month and a draft plan delivered sometime in the winter.
www.inquirer.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Interrupting your election day for some #PHLed news - the facilities master planning process timeline has been pushed back. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/ph...
When I was new to covering #PHLed, I went to speak to a class at Julio deBurgos ES. The kids were amazing, and they sent me the loveliest letters. Today, at Mastbaum HS, I met Ms. Morales - a first-year algebra teacher, and one of the kids in that 3rd grade class. Chills!
October 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
When I was new to covering #PHLed, I went to speak to a class at Julio deBurgos ES. The kids were amazing, and they sent me the loveliest letters. Today, at Mastbaum HS, I met Ms. Morales - a first-year algebra teacher, and one of the kids in that 3rd grade class. Chills!
This Delco school district says it will run out of cash in January if the Pa. state budget deadlock continues. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/wi...
This Delco school district says it will run out of cash by January without a state budget
The school system encompasses Aldan, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Lansdowne and Yeadon boroughs.
www.inquirer.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:12 PM
This Delco school district says it will run out of cash in January if the Pa. state budget deadlock continues. Story: www.inquirer.com/education/wi...
Big week for #PHLed, with the district hosting leaders from around the country at the Council for Great City Schools annual conference. Supt Watlington was front and center today, talking about the district's "groundbreaking academic improvements." Story: www.inquirer.com/education/to...
Tony Watlington talked about Philly’s ‘groundbreaking academic improvements’ on a national stage. Here are 3 takeaways.
Top education leaders from big-city districts around the U.S. are gathered in Philadelphia this week. On Thursday, they heard from Tony B. Watlington Sr. about "groundbreaking academic improvements."
www.inquirer.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Big week for #PHLed, with the district hosting leaders from around the country at the Council for Great City Schools annual conference. Supt Watlington was front and center today, talking about the district's "groundbreaking academic improvements." Story: www.inquirer.com/education/to...
Well. I get half of my genetic material from this man. This is how we’re feeling pre-game. Go Phils.
October 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Well. I get half of my genetic material from this man. This is how we’re feeling pre-game. Go Phils.
Phils fans feel “hopeless” after a crushing 4-3 loss pushing them to the brink of elimination. Story: www.inquirer.com/news/phillie...
Phils fans feel “hopeless” after the team’s 4-3 loss in Game 2 of the NLDS
The Phils aren’t out of the National League division series — yet — but optimism is hard to come by.
www.inquirer.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Phils fans feel “hopeless” after a crushing 4-3 loss pushing them to the brink of elimination. Story: www.inquirer.com/news/phillie...
Phils on the board. The crowd woke up.
October 7, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Phils on the board. The crowd woke up.
Ya gotta believe. First fans in the third base gate.
October 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Ya gotta believe. First fans in the third base gate.
Calm before the storm, Game 2.
October 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Calm before the storm, Game 2.
Calm before the storm, Game 2.
October 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Calm before the storm, Game 2.