Megan Mallicoat Reporter email
Megan Mallicoat is a Jacksonville Today reporter focusing on education. Her professional experience includes teaching at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, as well as editing, communications management, web design, and graphic design. She has a doctorate in mass communication with an emphasis in social psychology from UF. In her "free time," you'll most likely find her on the sidelines of some kind of kids’ sports practice, holding a book.
Featured image for “Duval school officials respond to fears over federal immigration rules”
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. | Alex Brandon, AP
February 5, 2025

Duval school officials respond to fears over federal immigration rules

ICE agents have not come to local schools, but local officials are thinking about how to respond.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Visiting Jacksonville”
January 31, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Visiting Jacksonville

The Number of the Week reflects the effect of the 8 million people who visited Jacksonville last year.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools town halls tackle district budget woes; last town hall is Thursday”
Superintendent Chris Bernier hosts a town hall at duPont Middle School on Jan. 23, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 28, 2025

Duval Schools town halls tackle district budget woes; last town hall is Thursday

Budget cuts could affect busing, class schedules, and more in Duval County public schools.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Snowy Day”
Chart by Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 24, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Snowy Day

See the previous snow records in Florida counties before historic Winter Storm Enzo blasted the Panhandle this week.…

Featured image for “Atlantic Coast High student dies after being hit by car”
Atlantic Coast High School. | Facebook
January 17, 2025

Atlantic Coast High student dies after being hit by car

The student was crossing Old Kings Road South toward a school bus stop when she was hit.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Concealed weapon permits”
Chart by Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 17, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Concealed weapon permits

See what percentage of each Florida county’s residents have concealed weapons permits.…

Featured image for “School start times up in the air in Duval County”
January 16, 2025

School start times up in the air in Duval County

A new state law requires later starting times — a requirement that could upend the schedules for tnes of thousands…

Featured image for “Former officers of Duval teachers’ union charged with fraud”
Duval Teachers United President Teresa Brady speaks with School Board members in 2017. | Duval County Public Schools
January 13, 2025

Former officers of Duval teachers’ union charged with fraud

The former president and vice president of Duval Teachers United are each alleged to have stolen more than $1.2 million…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Duval class sizes”
January 10, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Duval class sizes

Here’s a look at how class sizes in Duval County have changed since a constitutional amendment limited them.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board approves $365K settlement in latest Douglas Anderson lawsuit”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts on Jan. 7, 2025 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 7, 2025

Duval School Board approves $365K settlement in latest Douglas Anderson lawsuit

The latest lawsuit brings the district’s spend on Douglas Anderson settlements to nearly $2 million.…

Featured image for “State flags license of accused Douglas Anderson teacher”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
December 20, 2024

State flags license of accused Douglas Anderson teacher

The Florida Department of Education took action against Corey Thayer, a former teacher accused of sexual acts against a student.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Downtown progress”
December 19, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Downtown progress

A look at employment and office vacancy in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “State asked to reopen investigation into accused Duval teacher”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
December 17, 2024

State asked to reopen investigation into accused Duval teacher

Duval Schools sent information from a recent investigation to the state DOE.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville’s overcrowded animal shelter”
Jacksonville's animal shelter has been consistently over capacity
December 13, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville’s overcrowded animal shelter

A LOT of animals are sitting in the city of Jacksonville’s animal shelter right now — capacity is 362, but…

Featured image for “State closed probe of Jax teacher before accuser was given chance to testify, lawyer says”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
December 11, 2024

State closed probe of Jax teacher before accuser was given chance to testify, lawyer says

The Florida Department of Ed says the accuser refused to be interviewed — a claim contradicted by emails reviewed by…

Featured image for “Number of the Week | Let’s all go to the movies”
December 6, 2024

Number of the Week | Let’s all go to the movies

Our Number of the Week is the number of First Coast residents per movie theater in our region.…

Featured image for “Removed Douglas Anderson teacher was accused of sex with 14-year-old”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2024

Removed Douglas Anderson teacher was accused of sex with 14-year-old

Previously unreported records explain the circumstances surrounding Corey Thayer’s removal.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools recognized as ‘System of Distinction’ for academic progress”
A sign announces improvements at Hendricks Avenue Elementary in 2023. | Jacksonville Today
December 1, 2024

Duval Schools recognized as ‘System of Distinction’ for academic progress

Duval Schools received the award during the district’s recent reaccreditation review.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Florida license plates”
Florida Sen. Gayle Harrell displays designs for a specialty license plate to honor iconic Florida singer Jimmy Buffet on Jan. 10, 2024. The plate is available for preorder. | AP Photo/Brendan Farrington
November 21, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Florida license plates

Which specialty license plates are the most popular in Duval County, and which are some of the rarest on the…

Featured image for “Duval School Board’s rightward turn on display in sex ed, book discussions”
A crowd of supporters watch three new school board members get sworn in on Nov. 19, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 19, 2024

Duval School Board’s rightward turn on display in sex ed, book discussions

Duval’s School Board now has a conservative majority, aligning with state and incoming federal officials, who prize “parental rights” and…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | St. Johns County’s housing boom”
November 15, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | St. Johns County’s housing boom

After the St. Johns County elections, the County Commission has a majority of commissioners who campaigned on a platform of…

Featured image for “Duval Schools chief cleared on racial claim; commits to improve employee treatment”
Superintendent Christopher Bernier on June 12, 2024 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2024

Duval Schools chief cleared on racial claim; commits to improve employee treatment

An investigation found the superintendent did not racially discriminate against an employee in Lee County.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Duval’s presidential preferences”
A sign on the Jacksonville Jaguars' field on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, encourages Duval County residents to vote. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 8, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Duval’s presidential preferences

Republicans, who make up about 36% of Duval’s registered voters, overperformed, with 41% of the ballots in Tuesday’s election.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools needs to find $97M. But where?”
Duval Schools' headquarters on Nov. 4, 2024 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 6, 2024

Duval Schools needs to find $97M. But where?

School closures don’t begin to fill the gap in Duval Schools’ budget.…