Caroline Alphonso - The Globe and Mail

Caroline Alphonso

StaffReporterEducation ReporterToronto, Canada

calphonso@globeandmail.com

Caroline Alphonso is The Globe and Mail’s Education Reporter.

Caroline Alphonso abides by The Globe and Mail Editorial Code of Conduct

Latest articles

April 15, 2026

An empty hallway. Classrooms and COVID-19 signage at Ancaster High School, are photographed on Sept1 2020. Officials with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board held a press conference to talk about safety measures the board is taking to ensure a safe environment for students and staff as the school year resumes next week.

An empty hallway. Classrooms and COVID-19 signage at Ancaster High School, are photographed on Sept1 2020. Officials with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board held a press conference to talk about safety measures the board is taking to ensure a safe environment for students and staff as the school year resumes next week.

Attendance at Ontario high schools plummeting, data reveal

3 min read

October 2, 2025

A person draws out Moderna vaccine during a drive through COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday Jan. 2, 2022. British Columbia is rolling out another round of COVID-19 vaccination boosters, with invitations starting to go out Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

A person draws out Moderna vaccine during a drive through COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday Jan. 2, 2022. British Columbia is rolling out another round of COVID-19 vaccination boosters, with invitations starting to go out Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

What to know about this fall’s COVID-19 vaccine

3 min read

July 9, 2025

Molly's love for ice cream knows no limits. A few years back, around the age of 3, she's in the backyard solving the calculus of eating ice cream in the summer as her older brother devours his treat: Eat the ice cream before it melts, or lick the melting stream before it reaches her hand.

Molly's love for ice cream knows no limits. A few years back, around the age of 3, she's in the backyard solving the calculus of eating ice cream in the summer as her older brother devours his treat: Eat the ice cream before it melts, or lick the melting stream before it reaches her hand.

I’m a mom who’s indifferent to ice cream, with a kid who lives for it

Caroline Alphonso

3 min read

June 19, 2025

newsletter

Morning Update: Let’s talk about measles

4 min read

March 11, 2025

COVID-19 illustration

COVID-19 illustration

Five years ago, we predicted how COVID-19 would change our world. Here’s what we got right – and wrong

14 min read

November 11, 2024

Defocused Empty Classroom

Defocused Empty Classroom

Students are ruder in class than before the pandemic, educators say

3 min read

November 7, 2024

Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop speaks during a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Feb 26, 2024. Dunlop has asked officials to conduct a governance review of a Brantford-area Catholic school board after trustees spent $45,000 on a trip to Italy to buy $100,000 worth of art. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop speaks during a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Feb 26, 2024. Dunlop has asked officials to conduct a governance review of a Brantford-area Catholic school board after trustees spent $45,000 on a trip to Italy to buy $100,000 worth of art. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Union calls on four trustees at an Ontario Catholic school board to step down after lavish Italy trip

3 min read

November 4, 2024

Statues depicting Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) are seen outside a shop in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, March 17, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

Statues depicting Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) are seen outside a shop in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, March 17, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

Ontario school trustees under fire for lavish Italy trip and artwork spending

3 min read

October 31, 2024

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Canada Strong and Free Network event in Ottawa, on Friday, April 12, 2024. Alberta's government has launched a national ad campaign targeting the federal government's incoming emissions cap for the oil and gas sector. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Canada Strong and Free Network event in Ottawa, on Friday, April 12, 2024. Alberta's government has launched a national ad campaign targeting the federal government's incoming emissions cap for the oil and gas sector. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Alberta tables legislation regulating pronouns in school, gender in sports, limiting access to health care

5 min read

October 30, 2024

Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop speaks during a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Feb 26, 2024. Dunlop has asked officials to conduct a governance review of a Brantford-area Catholic school board after trustees spent $45,000 on a trip to Italy to buy $100,000 worth of art. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop speaks during a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Feb 26, 2024. Dunlop has asked officials to conduct a governance review of a Brantford-area Catholic school board after trustees spent $45,000 on a trip to Italy to buy $100,000 worth of art. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Ontario Catholic school board changes expenses policy following $145,000 trip to Italy for artwork

2 min read

October 28, 2024

Geri Lee Sayers, an elementary school teacher, is pictured in her classroom at St. Joseph Elementary School in Kelowna, B.C., on Oct. 24. (Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail)�

Geri Lee Sayers, an elementary school teacher, is pictured in her classroom at St. Joseph Elementary School in Kelowna, B.C., on Oct. 24. (Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail)�

Student teachers only answered 60% of phonics questions correctly, survey says

4 min read

October 18, 2024

Families of students receiving Chromebooks in equitable access program will be charged for repairs, TDSB says

2 min read

October 17, 2024

Ontario Minister Education Minister Jill Dunlop, walks to a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Feb 26, 2024. An increasing number of Ontario school boards are reporting deficits and are using or even depleting their reserves, according to internal Ministry of Education briefing documents. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Ontario Minister Education Minister Jill Dunlop, walks to a press conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Feb 26, 2024. An increasing number of Ontario school boards are reporting deficits and are using or even depleting their reserves, according to internal Ministry of Education briefing documents. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Ontario government to investigate Catholic school board’s $145,000 trip to Italy

3 min read

October 16, 2024

Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop sits at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.Ontario's Ministry of Education is investigating a Toronto District School Board field trip that saw students from 15 schools attend a protest on mercury contamination that is affecting a First Nation community in the north.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop sits at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.Ontario's Ministry of Education is investigating a Toronto District School Board field trip that saw students from 15 schools attend a protest on mercury contamination that is affecting a First Nation community in the north.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

School board art trip to Italy that cost $145,000 questioned by Ontario Education Minister

3 min read

October 15, 2024

Roseline Carter, director of programs at the Centre for Sexuality, poses for a portrait in Calgary, Alta., on October 8, 2024. Carter’s team are invited into schools to run age-appropriate sexual health sessions, which will be more challenging under this new legislation. LEAH HENNEL /THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Roseline Carter, director of programs at the Centre for Sexuality, poses for a portrait in Calgary, Alta., on October 8, 2024. Carter’s team are invited into schools to run age-appropriate sexual health sessions, which will be more challenging under this new legislation. LEAH HENNEL /THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Advocates fear Alberta’s opt-in bill for sex education will limit important lessons on health and consent

4 min read

October 15, 2024

Roseline Carter, director of programs at the Centre for Sexuality, poses for a portrait in Calgary, Alta., on October 8, 2024. Carter’s team are invited into schools to run age-appropriate sexual health sessions, which will be more challenging under this new legislation. LEAH HENNEL /THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Roseline Carter, director of programs at the Centre for Sexuality, poses for a portrait in Calgary, Alta., on October 8, 2024. Carter’s team are invited into schools to run age-appropriate sexual health sessions, which will be more challenging under this new legislation. LEAH HENNEL /THE GLOBE AND MAIL

newsletter

Morning Update: Alberta’s sex-ed switch

4 min read

October 11, 2024

Positive, left, and negative COVID-19 antigen rapid tests are picture in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. New data suggest a recent surge in COVID-19 activity in British Columbia appears to be on the wane, with hospital admissions, deaths and test positivity all down sharply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Positive, left, and negative COVID-19 antigen rapid tests are picture in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. New data suggest a recent surge in COVID-19 activity in British Columbia appears to be on the wane, with hospital admissions, deaths and test positivity all down sharply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘Spit kits’ offer opportunity to test for RSV, influenza and COVID-19 in Toronto schools this fall

3 min read

September 28, 2024

Victoria Fire Department firefighters received a call to a house fire in the 1100-block of Caledonia Ave shortly after 1 a.m on April 20 where they encountered the front entry way of the home engulfed in flames where a family of four lived. One occupant remains in hospital with potentially life threatening injuries. An investigation into arson is ongoing as police canvass the neighbourhood in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Victoria Fire Department firefighters received a call to a house fire in the 1100-block of Caledonia Ave shortly after 1 a.m on April 20 where they encountered the front entry way of the home engulfed in flames where a family of four lived. One occupant remains in hospital with potentially life threatening injuries. An investigation into arson is ongoing as police canvass the neighbourhood in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Victoria school district embroiled in dispute about reinstating police-in-schools program

4 min read

September 25, 2024

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Canada's largest school board has voted to make its required English credit for Grade 11 students a class focused on Indigenous works. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Canada's largest school board has voted to make its required English credit for Grade 11 students a class focused on Indigenous works. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TDSB trustees want Ontario to speed up probe after students appear to attend pro-Palestinian protest

3 min read

September 24, 2024

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Canada's largest school board has voted to make its required English credit for Grade 11 students a class focused on Indigenous works. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Canada's largest school board has voted to make its required English credit for Grade 11 students a class focused on Indigenous works. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Ontario orders review into TDSB field trip where videos appear to show students marching in pro-Palestinian protest

2 min read