Susie An is a reporter for WBEZ and covers state and suburban education.
She also serves as an occasional news anchor and show host on WBEZ. She’s directed shows like, Schools on the Line, a past WBEZ call-in show focusing on education in Chicago. Her work has also been heard on NPR, CBC and BBC. Susie joined WBEZ as a news desk intern in September 2007. Prior to joining WBEZ, Susie worked at the Peoria Journal Star newspaper and worked as an acquisitions editor for Publications International, Ltd.
Susie’s work has won awards from the Associated Press and Chicago Headline Club. She has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Susie has been a Chicago resident since 2006.
Susie An
Reporter, Education
Stories by Susie An
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‘From Zero to 100’: The Shift From Virtual Learning Back To The Classroom
WBEZ talks to the superintendent of the Oak Park and River Forest High School district about returning to full-time in-person learning.
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Any Illinois School District Can Offer Full-Time Remote Learning. Few Are Doing It.
Only eight districts submitted a remote program to the state. “Why go backward and not have options for families?” one superintendent said.
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‘We’re Not The Same’: As Teens Head Back To Classrooms, Schools Try To Address A Mental Health Crisis
Experts urge educators to focus less on regaining any lost academic ground and more on students’ social and emotional needs.
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As Schools Reopen, Vaccination Rates Among Teenagers Range From One Extreme To The Other
WBEZ finds wealthier areas show much higher teen vaccination rates. With no immunization mandate, local districts face a season of uncertainty.
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‘Fertile Soil For Abuse’: A Reckoning At Covenant Fellowship Church
Sources said the UIUC campus church’s culture, structure and charismatic leader were among the reasons why so many stories of sexual abuse remained hidden for so long.
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To Mask Or Not To Mask? School Board Debates Heat Up As Fall Looms
School districts across Illinois are grappling with whether to require masks for unvaccinated students or to go “mask optional.”
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‘You Don’t Know What Tomorrow Is Going To Look Like:’ Reflections From The Class Of 2021
Meet four high school seniors from the Chicago area and listen as they share stories of a senior year like no other.
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Illinois Lawmakers Boost School Spending, Guarantee Recess And Limit Student Restraints
WBEZ brings you a rundown of how Illinois schools will be affected by bills passed by state lawmakers as the legislative session ends.
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COVID-19 Relief Came Too Late For In-Home Day Cares That Shuttered Permanently
Providers say the pandemic exposed a vulnerable child care system. They say the economy can’t fully recover without support for parents.
