Sami West
Online Editor/Reporter
About
Sami West joined KUOW’s web team as an Online Editor/Reporter in 2025.
Before that, she spent over two years covering education at KUOW, reporting extensively on mounting financial challenges in Seattle Public Schools and districts across Washington state. Her coverage also focused 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 Schools plan would drain rainy day fund to help cover $131M shortfall
Seattle Public Schools leaders unveiled their most detailed plan yet to stabilize the district’s precarious financial situation, including a $131 million budget gap next year.
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A tearful vigil and demand for change: Family and friends gather to honor Ingraham shooting victim
Seattle Public Schools continues work on a safety initiative launched in response to his death.
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As many WA districts lose students, this small-town district faces overcrowding
Across the country, declining enrollment in public schools is forcing many districts to make severe budget cuts. But in Orting, the district has seen a near 20% spike in enrollment over the last three years — an indicator of how the education landscape is shifting in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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What should WA schools cut? Districts face unpopular choices
Across the Puget Sound region, districts are communicating a harsh reality — they are confronting fiscal shortfalls and they need to cut costs.
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Seattle Colleges faculty, staff demand equitable raises in walkout
Seattle Colleges faculty say they haven't received a significant pay raise since 2009.
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Union-led residency program aims to combat WA teacher shortage
Starting next school year, up to 20 aspiring special education teachers will get hands-on, paid classroom experience in the Federal Way, Walla Walla, and Mukilteo school districts through the Washington Education Association’s inaugural teacher residency program.
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Washington education advocates hope capital gains ruling helps schools
The Washington Supreme Court’s ruling last week to allow the state’s capital gains tax could bring a windfall for public education.
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Seattle Public Schools lays off more staff, but spares teachers for now
Seattle Public Schools officials say they’ve slashed 74 central office positions for next school year, yet most teachers’ jobs will be safe.
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Bellevue School Board to vote on school closures
As school districts across the region and state face declining enrollment and budget shortfalls, the Bellevue School Board will decide the fate of two elementary schools on Thursday.
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WA teacher turnover hits new high as students struggle to recover from pandemic disruptions
The number of teachers leaving Washington state classrooms has hit a nearly four-decade high.