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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As WA schools lose more special education teachers, help comes from within
Fed up with persistent special education teacher shortages, a group of Washington teachers is trying a new approach to building up this workforce.
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Curriculum about fentanyl, other opioids could come to WA junior high classrooms
Washington state's opioid death toll is climbing faster than anywhere else in the country, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's why schools may soon be required to teach students about the risks.
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When will Seattle get two new school board members?
The Seattle School Board has laid out the next steps for filling two empty board seats, and will consider changes to its residency policy next month.
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2 Seattle school board members resign following questions about where they live
Vivian Song and Lisa Rivera announced their resignations, effective Friday, in a joint statement.
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Should social media pay for addicting kids? Seattle schools lawsuit gains steam
A year into Seattle Public Schools' lawsuit against social media companies, the case is gaining traction.
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Washington schools chief encourages educators to embrace AI and use it in class
Washington’s top education official wants educators across the state to embrace AI in the classroom.
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Washington schools chief calls for changes to better fund special education
Washington’s chief of public schools wants the state to fully fund special education this legislative session.
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Should school meals be free for all at Washington elementary schools?
A proposed law would provide free breakfast and lunch to students at all elementary schools across Washington, regardless of income.
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Here's how much private and homeschooling in WA has jumped since the pandemic
Washington state has seen one of the largest spikes in private school enrollment in the country since the pandemic.
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Seattle Public Schools wins nearly $2 million in vaping lawsuit
Four years ago, Seattle Public Schools joined districts across the state and country to sue JUUL Labs and other vaping companies.