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 Public Schools’ new superintendent will start in February with $425,000 contract
It’s official: Seattle Public Schools has hired its next superintendent, a district leader from Michigan, to begin working on Feb. 1.
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Seattle School Board names lone superintendent finalist, a district leader recruited from Michigan
An experienced district leader from Michigan is set to become the next superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.
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The weird rule that shapes Seattle school board races
We got a listener question, and we had to answer it.
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Were school Covid closures worth it? Not really, UW study finds
Covid-era school closures caused the U.S. significant economic and educational loss while being less effective than other transmission interventions, according to new research.
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Seattle School Board moves 2 unnamed finalists forward in superintendent search
The Seattle School Board has chosen two finalists in its search for the district’s next superintendent — but won’t be naming them publicly.
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No cops at Garfield High. Seattle School Board rejects plan to revive resource officer program
Garfield High School will not get an armed on-campus Seattle police officer this year after all.
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Conservatives falsely accused her of assassinating Charlie Kirk. It started with Dr. Pepper jokes
A Seattle woman is sharing her story — and hoping to clear her name — after being falsely identified as Charlie Kirk’s assassin in some right-wing social media circles last week.
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Washington state sues Trump administration for withholding funding to combat climate change
Washington state has filed another lawsuit against the Trump administration — this time for rescinding over $9 million in congressionally approved funds meant to help fight climate change.
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Seattle School Board to pick next superintendent in October
The Seattle School Board is now slated to pick the district's next superintendent by the end of October, according to a new timeline presented to the board on Wednesday.
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A Western Washington guide to the Aug. 5 primary election
Here's a roundup of what western Washington voters should know about the Aug. 5 ballot.