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Liz Bowie

Liz

Liz Bowie is a Maryland education reporter for the Baltimore Banner. She covers how statewide education decisions are made: Who wields the power, who wins, who loses and what that means for Maryland's kids. She spent more than two decades covering city, county and state education issues for The Baltimore Sun. Her favorite stories are those that focus on students. She was a Spencer Fellow in Education Reporting at Columbia University. She grew up in Baltimore.

Latest content by Liz Bowie

Commissioner Robert Salley was elected Tuesday as the chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Salley, who has a background in teaching and education policy, received the support of seven members. Three others abstained.
Baltimore City school board elects new leaders in sudden reshuffling
The Baltimore City school board will be led by two new members after the sudden departure of its chair and vice chair earlier in the day.
Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners chair Ronald S. McFadden.
Baltimore school board chair and vice-chair resign after power shift
Ronald McFadden and Shantell Roberts have resigned amid internal disagreements among board members over Santelises' contract and the board's process for decision making.
Chuck Yocum and Erica McFarland, candidates for the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County, District 3, participate in a debate at the Riviera Beach Library.
Anne Arundel County school board likely to retain four of seven elected members
In Anne Arundel County’s school board race, four of the seven board members appeared to have won re-election, ensuring the county’s superintendent will likely continue to have the board’s support.
Aberdeen Police said they are investigating the fatal shooting of Jai'den Winchester.
Havre de Grace High football player, 14, killed in shooting; 16-year-old charged
Jai’den Alexander Winchester was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chuck Yocum, a candidate for the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County, District 3, speaks during a debate with his opponent Erica McFarland.
Woman who says Anne Arundel school board candidate abused her comes forward
“I am tired of hiding,” said the woman, who testified against Chuck Yocum in court 30 years ago.
Sonja Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, attends a recent meeting of the city's school board. The panel has extended her contract through June 2026, taking her leadership to a 10th year.
Sonja Santelises to stay on with Baltimore City Schools one more year
The city's school board voted 7-3 on Tuesday to extend the contract of CEO Sonja Santelises through June 2026. It was set to expire June 30, 2025.
Chuck Yocum and Erica McFarland, candidates for the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County, District 3, participate in a debate at the Riviera Beach Library Monday evening.
No mention of Yocum’s past at Anne Arundel County school board forum
Chuck Yocum and Erica McFarland appeared at a forum for the Anne Arundel County school board race, but the subject of his past was not up for debate.
Charles “Chuck” Yocum was charged 30 years ago with child sexual abuse and removed from his teaching position at Northeast High School over those and other accusations. He’s running for a position on Anne Arundel County’s school board.
Anne Arundel Democrats call for Chuck Yocum to drop out of school board race
Charles “Chuck” Yocum is running against Erica McFarland in District 3, which includes Pasadena and Gibson Island.
Though Charles “Chuck” Yocum, 61, of Pasadena, was found not guilty of the charges 30 years ago, Anne Arundel County Public Schools officials had enough concerns that he never returned the classroom.
He was accused of child sexual abuse 30 years ago. Now he’s running for school board.
Anne Arundel County candidate Chuck Yocum never returned to his teaching job at Northeast High School.
Kat Locke-Jones Maryland Teacher of the Year
Maryland State Teacher of the Year is once again from Baltimore City
Kat Locke-Jones was one of seven teachers from around the state selected as finalists.
Neighborhood children enjoy a playground at Dutch Village apartments in Northeast Baltimore.
A New York investor came to town. His next moves could threaten a Baltimore school
As many as 120 Yorkwood Elementary School students could be pushed out of their community, with devastating consequences to their school.
The exterior of the Baltimore City Schools administrative headquarters on North Avenue.
He had ‘a tough message’ for Baltimore’s school board. The meeting ended abruptly.
The school board “was made aware of a potentially unsafe situation in the boardroom,” according to a statement from the school system.
Kat Locke-Jones, a seventh-grade English teacher speaks with students during class at Hampstead Hill Academy in Baltimore.
Baltimore-area schools raise scores on Maryland tests as achievement elsewhere stalls
Students in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore counties made steady progress on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, known as MCAP.
Parents may barely have heard of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, but the expansive changes to public education are already shaping their children’s lives in school.
Maryland education reform kicks into high gear this school year. It’s getting sticky.
Parents may barely have heard of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, but the expansive changes to public education are already shaping their children’s lives in school.
Eighth grader Bria Shah slides a cellphone into a Yondr pouch, a device Hampstead Hill Academy uses to lock up students’ phones during the school day.
More Maryland schools are locking up cellphones and banning them from class
Across the Baltimore region, schools are joining a national trend cracking down on kids’ phone use.

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