Sami West
Education Reporter
About
Sami West is a reporter for KUOW, where she covers education across the Puget Sound region. She’s been on the education beat for over four years, reporting extensively on the countless ways Covid has impacted K-12 schools. Sami’s reporting has also focused on child care deserts and workforce issues, the role early childhood education can play in improving literacy, and the challenges students, families, and educators face to provide special education services.
Previously, she wrote about education for Chalkbeat Tennessee in Memphis, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin in Appleton, Wis., and the Leader-Telegram in Eau Claire, Wis. While pursuing degrees in journalism and English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, she interned at The Washington Post and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
A native Minnesotan and seven-year Wisconsinite, Sami is passionate about tater tot hotdish (not casserole), lakeside sunsets, cheese, and the Green Bay Packers. When she’s not attending school board meetings or chasing other education news, Sami enjoys hitting the trails and exploring local breweries with her husband and dog.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Education Writers Association
Stories
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Seattle students push city to boost mental health funding in schools
The Seattle City Council is set to approve it's 2024 budget this week, and students are hopeful it'll include $20 million to expand mental health resources in schools across the city.
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Seattle families are relieved — but still worried — now that school closures are off the table next year
With Seattle schools spared from closures next school year, some parents and educators breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday — at least temporarily.
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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.