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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Washington state joins lawsuit against Trump's mass Department of Education cuts
Washington state has joined a coalition of 20 other states in a lawsuit seeking to stop President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
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University of Washington freezes non-essential hiring, travel
The University of Washington has frozen non-essential hiring and travel, effective immediately, amid federal and state funding uncertainty.
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U.S. Department of Education investigates Tumwater School District over transgender student athlete
The U.S. Department of Education has launched a Title IX investigation into the Tumwater School District after a transgender girl from Shelton played in a high school girls’ basketball game last month.
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Homelessness is soaring among Seattle students. School support workers are on the front lines
Homelessness among Seattle Public Schools students has been on the rise over the last two years, affecting roughly 2,200 students. KUOW takes an inside look at how a district staffer goes above and beyond to help these students – and their families – in one southeast Seattle elementary school.
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Successful dropout prevention program in Washington state faces uncertain future
A state program that helps prevent Washington students from dropping out of high school may be in jeopardy if lawmakers don't step in.
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How is Trump's crackdown on DEI affecting your school? KUOW wants to hear from you
On President Donald Trump's first day in office, he signed an executive order calling for the termination of all “discriminatory” and “illegal” DEI and accessibility programs in federally funded institutions.
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'We are not going backward.' Washington schools chief tells districts to maintain DEI programs despite Trump threat
Washington’s top education leader says schools shouldn’t make any changes in response to the Trump administration’s recent edict to axe diversity initiatives by the end of the month.
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Are Seattle schools failing highly capable students? Parents raise concerns
Seattle parents and school board members are calling on the district to come up with a better plan for advanced learning.
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Incoming UW president promises continued focus on DEI, despite Trump’s threats
The next president of the University of Washington says the school's values won't change — even as the Trump administration targests diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on college
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How will Trump's ban on trans athletes in girls’ sports impact Washington state?
Student athletes in Washington won’t see any immediate changes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.