Sami West
Online Editor/Reporter
About
Sami West joined KUOW’s web team as an Online Editor/Reporter in 2025.
Before that, she spent two years covering education at KUOW, reporting extensively on mounting financial challenges in Seattle Public Schools and districts across Washington state. Her coverage also centered on growing concerns about violence in and around schools, teacher shortages, the youth mental health crisis, and the countless ways Covid continues to affect schools and families, among other topics.
Previously, 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.
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Education Writers Association
Stories
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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.
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All clear at Seattle's Garfield High after gunfire reported near school grounds
A Seattle Public Schools spokesperson later clarified Garfield was under a shelter in place order, which happens when there’s a threat in the area, but not on or near school grounds.
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Many Seattle area schools have stopped publicly tracking Covid cases, despite imminent fall surge
School districts across King County have changed how they're reporting Covid cases this year, following updated guidance from the state. Meanwhile, Covid, RSV, and flu combined are expected to cause a surge in infections this fall and winter.
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Bellevue closed two elementary schools. Are middle schools next?
The Bellevue School District is considering more school consolidations — this time at the middle school level.
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Here's when Seattle Public Schools will announce possible school closures
The timeline to potentially close some Seattle schools is getting clearer.
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Only half of WA students are reading at grade level, new test scores show
Just 50% of students across Washington state are reading at grade level, according to the state’s latest standardized test results. Literacy rates declined during the pandemic and have yet to rebound.