Austin Theater Teacher Sued by Ex-Students Dies
Diane “Betsy” Cornwell had been accused of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct.
Michelle Pitcher
Michelle Pitcher is a staff writer at the Texas Observer covering criminal justice, housing, and education. She received her master’s in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley and was part of the team at The Marshall Project that won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Her reporting has been featured on NPR, FiveThirtyEight, The Dallas Morning News, and more. Michelle was born and raised in Dallas and is now based in Austin.
Articles by Michelle Pitcher
Fighting for Breaks on Multiple Fronts
Workers and activists implore Governor Greg Abbott to consider the dire need for protections in the record-breaking heat.
The Trauma Waiting in the Wings
Former students speak out against longtime Austin ISD theater teacher accused of stepping over the line physically and emotionally.
Life with Parole
Probation and parole systems remain understaffed and buggy in Texas.
Who Judges the Judges?
A bizarre Dallas case involving the alleged impersonation of a judge on Zoom tests the state's opaque system of judicial accountability.
‘He Failed to Signal’: When DPS Traffic Stops Turn Deadly
Shandra Hodge speaks out about her son’s death at the hands of state troopers in 2019.
Prison Journalist Shows Why We Need a Free Press—Even Behind Bars
Jason Walker has been reporting from inside his cell at great risk to his personal safety.
Austin PD’s Bad DNA Analysis Nearly Cost This Man His Life
Billy Faircloth was sentenced to 60 years in prison, but an appeals court overturned his conviction.
Dallas’ Evidence Fiasco: An Exoneree’s Lawyer Speaks
Cheryl Wattley helped free Richard Miles, who spent more than a decade in prison for a murder he didn’t commit.
This Burned-out Texas Teacher Unseated His School Board President
The Texas public school system almost broke Andrew Gonzales' spirit. Then he won a leadership role in Austin Independent School District.