Sami West
Education Reporter
About
Sami West is a reporter covering schools in Seattle and across the Puget Sound region. She’s been on the education beat for over five 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 School Board primary: District 1 candidates talk funding, equity, and priorities
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Seattle School Board primary: District 6 candidates have different approaches to fixing budget shortfall
Three candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to replace departing board member Leslie Harris in District 6, which spans West Seattle and South Park.
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Big decisions for Seattle Schools this election
Seattle Public Schools are in the middle of a budget crisis. The district closed a 131 million dollar budget gap for the school year that’s about to start, but it’s a temporary fix. Three races for school board kick off in tomorrow’s primary, and the winners will shape education in our city for years to come. KUOW Education Reporter Sami West explains the high-stakes questions the candidates are facing, including possible school closures. Read Sami's coverage of the races in School Board Districts 1, 3, and 6, along with SPS's budget crisis: https://www.kuow.org/authors/sami-west
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Facing another budget deficit and possible school closures, SPS seeks community feedback
As Seattle Public Schools faces another budget deficit of roughly $100 million — and school closures are likely on the horizon — the district is looking for feedback at a series of community meetings this month.
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Why Dolly Parton is bringing children's books to Washington state
Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" Tuesday was a stop at Tacoma's Pantages Theater, where she celebrated the statewide expansion of her Imagination Library program.
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Why Dolly Parton is bringing children's books to Washington state
Dolly Parton visited Tacoma Tuesday to celebrate the statewide expansion of her Imagination Library in Washington state, which provides free books to kids.
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Has summer school helped in the fight against pandemic learning loss?
One approach educators have taken to make up for pandemic learning loss is to send kids to summer school. But a new report finds expanded summer learning programs weren't as effective as they'd hoped.
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Why does the US drug czar think WA schools should stock Narcan like fire extinguishers?
The United States’ top drug control official, Dr. Rahul Gupta, is in Washington state this week to sound the alarm on the threat of fentanyl — especially for kids this school year.
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Teacher strikes delay first day of school for 30k students in southwest WA
Teachers are striking in the Camas and Evergreen school districts near Vancouver. It affects over 30,000 students.
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Strike is 'looking more likely,' some Seattle school staff say
Days before the first day of school, one of the unions representing Seattle Public Schools staffers says a strike is becoming increasingly likely.
