Editor Kate Cough announced the addition of expert education reporter Eesha Pendharkar to The Maine Monitor newsroom team, where she will work as senior education reporter and data editor, focusing on education and equity issues in Maine schools.  

Eesha is returning to Maine journalism, where she previously worked for the Bangor Daily News, after three years at Education Week. At Education Week, Eesha’s reporting on race and racism, gender and sexuality, school enrollment, discipline, segregation, and school dress codes were cited nationwide.  

“Our new dedicated education reporting project will provide a systemic, fulsome look at education issues throughout our state and how it is serving all Maine’s children and young people,” Kate noted. 

“This is something our readers indicated an interest in and is information decision makers in the capitol and in towns across Maine need to better inform their funding and policy decisions. Eesha brings incredible depth and insights to this new role.” 

With the addition of Eesha’s reporting, Monitor readers can expect in-depth coverage of education issues and educational inequities in Maine’s public schools and higher education institutions with a focus on the unique challenges of access and opportunities faced by rural districts and how the pandemic, state legislation and the national political climate impact Maine students and educators.

Eesha will also apply her data journalism skills and experience to work with the newsroom to strengthen our data reporting.