Sami West
Education Reporter
About
Sami West is a reporter covering schools in Seattle and across the Puget Sound region. She’s been on the education beat for over five years and has reported extensively on the countless ways COVID has impacted schools, students, and families. Her coverage has also focused on school finances, special education issues, the importance of early childhood education, and the growing youth mental health crisis.
Before joining KUOW in 2023, 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.
When she’s not attending school board meetings or chasing other education news, Sami enjoys exploring the beautiful trails and abundant breweries of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dog.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Education Writers Association
Stories
-
Education
Do WA schools need air conditioning? Some teachers think so amid the heatwave
The unusually early heat wave is causing stifling temperatures in some western Washington classrooms without air conditioning.
-
Education
As expected, WA student learning suffered during Covid. Should we be doing more to fix the problem?
A new state report confirms that standardized test scores declined across the board during the pandemic, and it suggests state education officials should launch a tracking system for how districts are helping kids recover.
-
Education
Seattle Schools plan would drain rainy day fund to help cover $131M shortfall
Seattle Public Schools leaders unveiled their most detailed plan yet to stabilize the district’s precarious financial situation, including a $131 million budget gap next year.
-
Crime
A tearful vigil and demand for change: Family and friends gather to honor Ingraham shooting victim
Seattle Public Schools continues work on a safety initiative launched in response to his death.
-
Education
As many WA districts lose students, this small-town district faces overcrowding
Across the country, declining enrollment in public schools is forcing many districts to make severe budget cuts. But in Orting, the district has seen a near 20% spike in enrollment over the last three years — an indicator of how the education landscape is shifting in the aftermath of the pandemic.
-
Education
What should WA schools cut? Districts face unpopular choices
Across the Puget Sound region, districts are communicating a harsh reality — they are confronting fiscal shortfalls and they need to cut costs.
-
Education
Seattle Colleges faculty, staff demand equitable raises in walkout
Seattle Colleges faculty say they haven't received a significant pay raise since 2009.
-
Education
Union-led residency program aims to combat WA teacher shortage
Starting next school year, up to 20 aspiring special education teachers will get hands-on, paid classroom experience in the Federal Way, Walla Walla, and Mukilteo school districts through the Washington Education Association’s inaugural teacher residency program.
-
Education
Washington education advocates hope capital gains ruling helps schools
The Washington Supreme Court’s ruling last week to allow the state’s capital gains tax could bring a windfall for public education.
-
Education
Seattle Public Schools lays off more staff, but spares teachers for now
Seattle Public Schools officials say they’ve slashed 74 central office positions for next school year, yet most teachers’ jobs will be safe.