Sami West
Education Reporter
About
Sami West is a reporter covering schools in Seattle and throughout the Puget Sound region. She’s been on the education beat for over six years and has reported extensively on the countless ways COVID has impacted schools, students, and families. Her coverage has also focused on school finances, special education issues, the importance of early childhood education, and the growing youth mental health crisis.
Before joining KUOW in 2023, she wrote about education for Chalkbeat in Memphis, Tennessee, and two newspapers in Wisconsin. A Midwesterner at heart, Sami originally hails from Minnesota and holds degrees in Journalism and English from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
When she’s not attending school board meetings or chasing other education news, Sami enjoys exploring the beautiful trails and abundant breweries of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dog.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Education Writers Association
Stories
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Seattle Schools hits pause on timeline to close several schools
No Seattle schools are on the chopping block for the coming school year, but they might be in the fall of 2025.
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A year after a shooting at Seattle's Ingraham High, students remain traumatized — and they want change
A year ago, a shooting at Ingraham High School left a student dead and an entire community reeling from a tragedy that has become all too common in schools across the nation. Ingraham students say that despite the district's efforts, they continue to grapple with trauma and want to see changes.
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School consolidation, safety, and budget gaps could cause a shakeup on Seattle school board
Four of the seven seats on Seattle's school board are up for grabs, and only two incumbents are running for re-election, meaning the board will get at least two new members after November 7. KUOW education reporter Sami West is here to explain some of the biggest issues candidates will have to address after the election.
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Student homelessness in Seattle schools jumps by a third in 2023
The number of Seattle Public Schools students experiencing homelessness has spiked over 30% in the past year.
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How much should the Seattle School Board oversee finances? District 2 hopefuls disagree
Incumbent Seattle School Board member Lisa Rivera Smith is facing a challenge from Christina Posten for her District 2 seat in the upcoming general election.
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Seattle school closures are a top issue for school board hopefuls. Where do the candidates stand?
Four of the seven Seattle Public School board’s seven seats are up for grabs this year, and the 2023 election comes at a particularly pivotal time for Washington’s largest school district.
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A 4-day school week? These Pacific Northwest districts are trying it out
The Waterville School District is among a growing number of districts across the country to shift to a four-day school week. But what are the trade offs?
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'Please don't break our hearts.' Seattle parents, teachers protest widespread classroom shuffles
Seattle parents and teachers flooded a Wednesday school board meeting to protest recent class size adjustments at about half of the district’s elementary and K-8 schools.
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Seattle elementary one of two in Washington state named Blue Ribbon school
For the first time in 12 years, a Seattle Public school has won a national award for academic achievement.
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Washington state child care providers are struggling to survive. Sen. Murray calls for feds to help
Sen. Patty Murray is calling for the federal government to renew its historic investment in the child care industry.
