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Mara Klecker

Reporter
Suburban K-12 schools
A native South Dakotan and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's journalism college, Klecker has always called the Midwest home. She's worked on journalism projects in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Nepal. In her free time, she can be found reading, hiking or planning her next international trip. She lives in the west metro with her husband and two dogs.

Latest from Mara Klecker

What happened when Border Patrol agents showed up at Minneapolis’ Roosevelt High School

The confrontation occurred a few miles and just hours after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
January 10, 2026

Parents stand watch for ICE outside Minnesota schools

Some Twin Cities schools are responding to rumors about ICE agents on school properties.
January 10, 2026

Walz tells ICE to ‘stay away’ from Minnesota schools after incident at Roosevelt High School

Minneapolis schools canceled classes after two schools, including Roosevelt, went into lockdowns in south Minneapolis, within miles of an ICE shooting.
January 8, 2026

Anoka-Hennepin teachers reach tentative contract agreement, strike averted

Details of the contract proposal were not immediately released.
January 7, 2026
Union members, teachers and supporters cheered during a rally held by Education Minnesota outside the Anoka-Hennepin district headquarters Monday, December 11, 2023, in Anoka, Minn. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com

Anoka-Hennepin strike looms as school district, teachers still at odds

Teachers in Minnesota’s largest school district could go on strike as soon as Jan. 8. The two sides are at odds over pay and health insurance premiums.
January 7, 2026

Robbinsdale school board approves another middle school closure

The district is closing a fourth school, the FAIR Crystal magnet program, as officials work on a state-mandated debt plan after discovering a $20 million budgeting error.
January 6, 2026

After she lost her siblings in a sudden tragedy, Elk River senior channels grief into new purpose

Carley Frank turned a school project into a way to honor her brother and sister, helping other students for years to come and boosting awareness about mental health.
December 29, 2025

Anoka-Hennepin educators voting on strike after negotiations fail

Amid rising health care costs, the teachers union and suburban school district have yet to agree on pay and benefits.
December 17, 2025
Union members, teachers and supporters cheered during a rally held by Education Minnesota outside the Anoka-Hennepin district headquarters Monday, December 11, 2023, in Anoka, Minn. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com

Robbinsdale district to close three schools, district headquarters

Parents and teachers said the decision felt rushed. District leaders say choices had to be made now for a state-mandated debt plan.
December 16, 2025

This suburban district opted to serve its highest needs special education students in-house

Since the Fridley school district opened a new program last year that’s an unusual model in Minnesota, it’s already proving popular.
November 27, 2025
Editor's Pick

Editor's Pick

These Minnesota schools serving low-income students are beating the odds

A Minnesota Star Tribune analysis of test scores shows which of the state’s public schools have exceeded expectations.
November 10, 2025

Minnesota schools asked voters for more taxes. Most said yes.

Unlike last year, the majority of school districts asking for tax hikes to fund day-to-day expenses received voter support.
November 5, 2025
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