I am a national correspondent at The New York Times and author of The Teacher Wars, a bestselling history of American public education.

I’m fascinated by how public policy impacts people’s lives — from education to urban planning to health to economics.

I’m an experienced guest on radio and TV, and enjoy speaking at universities, book fairs, and professional events.

In addition to my work at The Times, I’ve written for The Atlantic, Slate, The Marshall Project, and lots of other publications. I was a two-time Livingston Award finalist for my work on juvenile justice.

I live in Brooklyn with my husband and two daughters.