Senior reporter at The Hechinger Report specializing in early childhood development and rural education reform. Mader brings unique perspective from her classroom experience, focusing on:
Seeking stories that:
Jackie Mader has cultivated a unique expertise at the intersection of education reporting and grassroots classroom experience. Her career began as a special education teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she witnessed firsthand the systemic challenges facing underserved student populations. This practical foundation informs her journalism, which combines policy analysis with human-centered storytelling.
This innovative piece documented how middle school journalists uncovered pandemic-era mental health crises through peer interviews. Mader's analysis revealed how student-led reporting surfaces insights often missed by adult observers. The article demonstrated her commitment to amplifying youth perspectives in education coverage while maintaining rigorous data verification standards.
Mader mentored a team of elementary reporters examining meal program disparities. The resulting investigation combined USDA nutrition data with personal narratives from food-insecure families. This work exemplifies her approach to collaborative journalism that empowers young voices while addressing systemic policy issues.
Mader consistently highlights programs bridging age gaps in education. Pitches should emphasize innovative models like senior citizen tutoring partnerships or cross-grade mentorship programs. Her 2023 piece on dementia-friendly classrooms demonstrates particular interest in lifespan learning approaches.
With deep experience covering Appalachian schools, Mader seeks stories challenging urban-centric education narratives. Successful pitches might explore rural STEM initiatives using local ecosystems or distance learning programs addressing geographical barriers.
"Mader's reporting reshapes how we understand educational equity through the lens of those most affected by policy decisions." - National Education Writers Association
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Education, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant: