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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Big decisions for Seattle Schools this election
Seattle Public Schools are in the middle of a budget crisis. The district closed a 131 million dollar budget gap for the school year that’s about to start, but it’s a temporary fix. Three races for school board kick off in tomorrow’s primary, and the winners will shape education in our city for years to come. KUOW Education Reporter Sami West explains the high-stakes questions the candidates are facing, including possible school closures. Read Sami's coverage of the races in School Board Districts 1, 3, and 6, along with SPS's budget crisis: https://www.kuow.org/authors/sami-west
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Seattle School Board primary: District 6 candidates have different approaches to fixing budget shortfall
Three candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to replace departing board member Leslie Harris in District 6, which spans West Seattle and South Park.
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Seattle School Board primary: District 1 candidates talk funding, equity, and priorities
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Seattle School Board primary: Meet the District 3 candidates
Meet the candidates vying for the District 3 seat on the Seattle School Board.
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Report: WA's high cost of child care hits single moms hardest
A new report finds the average annual cost to send a toddler to a child care center in Washington state has risen to more than $14,000.
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Inside Seattle Schools' budget: Staff cuts, but no teacher layoffs or school closures
When the new school year kicks off in September, Seattle students might notice some changes in their schools due to budget cuts.
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SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action raises new questions for WA colleges and universities
The decision prohibits colleges from using race as a factor in admissions.
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What does SCOTUS' ruling against affirmative action mean for WA?
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday overturned more than four decades of legal precedent by declaring affirmative action unconstitutional. What does it mean for Washington?
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Class of Covid: 2023 grads reflect on their journey to high school graduation
Graduation has finally arrived for the Class of 2023. And for this year's graduating seniors, their high school experience was unlike any other: A global pandemic hit in their first year and upended education as we knew it.
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Seattle school leaders face tough budget decisions as deadline approaches
Seattle’s contentious school budget season is coming to a close on July 6, when the school board is scheduled to vote on a fiscal plan that will close a $131 million dollar gap.