Kristen Griffith

Kristen

Kristen Griffith covers Maryland’s education workforce, focused on what teachers and others need to help students learn and how the support they get (or don’t) affects what happens in the classroom. Previously, Griffith reported for the Chronicle of Philanthropy in Washington, D.C., after covering education and other community news for the Carroll County Times. She started her journalism career as an education reporter for Southern Maryland News after receiving her master’s degree from American University in 2018 and her bachelor’s degree from Wesley College in Dover, Del. the year prior.

The latest from Kristen Griffith

Baltimore County school district explains why some students aren’t getting laptops
Saving money, damages to devices and concerns from the community were reasons why some Baltimore County Public Schools students won't get laptops next year.
Baltimore County Public Schools announced last week on social media, without explanation, that it is changing the way devices will be given to students.
Baltimore County won’t give some students laptops anymore, and won’t say why
The policy marks a significant shift from the school system’s approach to technology being widely available and equitable, even at home.
A child uses a laptop.
The Supreme Court sided with a Montgomery County parents’ group on LGBTQIA+ books. Now what?
A parent, an attorney and an educator weigh the court’s ruling and what it could mean for the rest of the nation.
A selection of books featuring LGBTQ characters that are part of a Supreme Court case are pictured, Tuesday, April, 15, 2025, in Washington.
It just got tougher to ban books in Maryland school libraries
Maryland’s school board changed state regulations to align with a law that prevents removing books from school libraries without due process.
The library and media center inside Oakland Mills High School in Columbia.
Special education is her top priority. She tries to make it Baltimore County’s, too.
Sharon Saroff advocates for special education students in Baltimore County — sometimes with attitude.
Sharon Saroff, who has about 50 clients, helps families navigate special needs issues at Baltimore County Public Schools and in other Maryland schools.
Baltimore teacher sues state Republicans, Moms for Liberty members, Libs of TikTok
Alexa Sciuto, an LGBTQIA+ advocate who formerly taught in Baltimore County, claims the conservative legislators falsely accused her of making online death threats toward a Moms for Liberty member.
Alexa Sciuto is pictured outside Stemmers Run Middle School in Essex, Maryland, where she is a teacher, on November 10, 2023.
How a Woodlawn High senior helped boost the graduation rate
Sean Marshall helped design and fund a student-led tutoring program that’ll live on after he leaves Woodlawn High School.
Woodlawn High School senior Sean Marshall is looking forward to graduating and studying cyber security at Coppin State University.
Teachers in Baltimore County are stopping their work days on time. It’s a protest over pay.
Baltimore County Public Schools teachers will not perform any work outside of their contractually obligated hours, according to the Teachers Association of Baltimore County.
Baltimore County Public School teachers will not perform any work outside of their contractually obligated hours, according to the Teachers Association of Baltimore County.
Baltimore County gym teacher charged with sex offenses is released from jail
Roger Myers, 61, of Towson, a physical education teacher at Deep Creek Middle School in Essex, is charged with third- and fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault.
Domenic Iamele, Deel Creek Middle School physical education teacher Roger Myers’ attorney, talks to reporters on Monday outside the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County in Towson after a bail review hearing on Monday, June 2, 2025.
This Baltimore County 5th grader is Maryland’s youngest competitor at the National Spelling Bee
This week, Amelia “Bindi” Ray will take the national stage as the youngest Maryland competitor in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Amelia "Bindi" Ray, a fifth grader at Riderwood Elementary School, will compete at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee this week.
These Baltimore County schools cracked down on cellphones. Here’s how it went.
Seventeen Baltimore County Public Schools participated in a pilot program to limit student cellphone use.
Seventeen Baltimore County schools participated in a pilot program to limit student cellphone use.
While some schools cut back, Baltimore County’s top teacher leans into inclusion
At a time when public schools are under pressure to scale back diversity programs, Brittany Jakubowski remains dedicated to making her students feel like they belong.
Brittany Jakubowski, an English teacher at Catonsville Middle School, grew a diversity fair from a class project into a community event that draws hundreds.
Baltimore County teachers demand raises they were promised amid budget cuts
The Baltimore County teachers union announced they were offered 1.5% raises instead of the 5% they'd negotiated previously.
The Teachers Association of Baltimore County is the union representing 9,000 educators in the school system.
How Baltimore County school budget woes could reshape student mental health support
Psychologists and counselors were reclassified to 10-month employees to save money in Baltimore County.
Woodlawn High School student hit by car, sent to hospital
In a letter to parents, Principal Jamel Jernigan described the incident as “serious.”
The Baltimore County Public School Board logo as seen during a board meeting on 12/6/22.
Baltimore County schools to renegotiate salary raises for staff
Budget challenges are forcing Baltimore County school district officials to rethink the pay increases they’d promised staff.
Baltimore County Public Schools staff were due 5% raises for the next two school years.
‘Life would never be the same’: Ex-Pikesville principal speaks after man’s plea in AI case
Baltimore County Circuit Judge Jan Marshall Alexander sentenced Dazhon Darien, 32, the former athletic director of Pikesville High School who split his time between Baltimore and Houston, to serve four months in the Baltimore County Detention Center.
Eric Eiswert, the former principal of Pikesville High School, talks to his lawyers outside the Baltimore County Courts Building after Dazhon Darien, the man accused of using artificial intelligence to impersonate him, took a plea deal.
Baltimore schools cyberattack compromised staff and student data
The data breach involved information on more than half of current employees and over 1,000 students.
Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises was among the employees whose data was involved in a cybersecurity breach.
Maryland’s largest school district heads to the Supreme Court. Here’s what to know.
Some Montgomery County families want the right to opt kids out of reading inclusive storybooks.
A selection of books featuring LGBTQ characters that are part of a Supreme Court case
For aspiring wrestling pros, the road to WWE runs through Maryland
Before they can perform at WWE’s WrestleMania or AEW’s All In, aspiring pro wrestlers must learn their craft at MCW, a Harford County wrestling school.
Kelly Burkhart grabs Tony Macko by the foot as they train inside the ring at MCW Pro Wrestling Training Center in Joppa.
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