Before joining Casa Grande Dispatch as an education reporter, Little built a strong foundation in data and investigative journalism as a graduate student at the University of Missouri. Previously, she earned her Bachelor of Journalism summa cum laude, with minors in Leadership and Public Service, Latin American Studies and Political Science, as well as a Multicultural Studies Certificate. At the Columbia Missourian, she co-authored an investigative piece on the long delay in launching Columbia’s police co-responder program. As a recipient of the Larry J. Waller Fellowship in Investigative Reporting, she also examined the impact of a rural hospital closure on the local community. Little is dedicated to delivering clear, in-depth, trustworthy journalism.
Pinal County is home to one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona, Casa Grande. The Casa Grande Dispatch is locally owned and has been the paper of record for over 60 years. It is no longer a quiet bedroom community to Phoenix but a growing area for tech and manufacturing. This reporter will focus on some of the larger trends affecting Pinal County school districts -- ranging from larger districts like Maricopa Unified School District to smaller ones like Superior Unified School District. They will tackle some of the unique challenges faced in this region while highlighting each community's successes.