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 pauses closure meetings
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Seattle Public Schools cancels closure meetings, is revisiting plan
Facing intense community backlash over proposals to shutter as many as 21 schools, the Seattle school district is canceling community meetings scheduled for this week.
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WA's top education official requests additional $3 billion for public schools
Washington's public schools chief is calling on lawmakers to fully fund K-12
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'It's literally a skeleton.' Seattle School Board critiques plan for mass closures
Seattle School Board members are pressing district officials for answers on their new proposals to close up to 21 elementary and K-8 schools by next fall.
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'Don't do this to our kids': Hundreds of Seattle parents rally against school closures
Hundreds of parents flooded the Seattle School Board meeting on Wednesday to speak out against proposed school closures.
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Potential Seattle school closures revealed in new proposal
Seattle families now know which elementary schools will likely be on the chopping block in 2025.
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Highline schools to be closed a second day after apparent cyberattack
Highline Public Schools will remain closed through Tuesday, after being the target of a suspected cyberattack.
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Seattle families brace for school closures. What can we learn from last time?
Seattle's school year is just starting, and it's already expected to be a turbulent one, as students, families, and educators brace for likely school closures. What happened the last time Seattle closed schools — and what can we learn from it?
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As Washington ranks among top states for chronic absenteeism, educators strive to reverse trend
As students across Washington head back to school, educators are doubling down on efforts to improve attendance.
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Districts need stricter cellphone policies, Washington schools chief says
Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has issued new guidance to districts for stricter cellphone policies, as more schools across the state and nation are starting to crack down on smart devices.