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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Education
What Trump's second term could mean for education in Washington state
President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House has raised a lot of questions about how policies he’s pushed could affect public education.
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Education
Free online therapy for teens and young adults is coming to Seattle
City leaders announced a new partnership with Talkspace, an online behavioral health care company, on Tuesday. Those services are now available across Seattle, free of charge to anyone between the ages of 13 and 24.
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Education
Cornish and Seattle U announce plans to merge as higher ed storm looms
Two of Seattle's private colleges are merging — Seattle University and Cornish College of the Arts.
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Seattle Public Schools' budget woes continue
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Education
Judge throws out attempted recall of Seattle School Board president
A King County Superior Court judge on Monday dismissed the attempted recall of Seattle School Board President Liza Rankin.
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Education
Seattle Public Schools drops contentious closure plan following months of waffling amid backlash
Seattle Public Schools’ plan to shutter four schools next fall is dead — at least for now.
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Education
Seattle may not close elementary schools, after all
In a stunning reversal, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones said Tuesday he may not recommend closing schools, after all.
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SPS parents mount a recall effort against Seattle School Board President Liza Rankin
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Education
'This is the worst.' Seattle parents, students react to school closure plans
Seattle Public Schools officials are trying to ease concerns about proposals to close four elementary schools. But it's a tough sell.
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Education
Seattle School Board president faces recall effort over handling of school closures
As Seattle Public Schools faces continued public backlash over proposed school closures, a group of parents is attempting to recall board President Liza Rankin.