Sami West
Online Editor/Reporter
About
Sami West joined KUOW’s web team as an Online Editor/Reporter in 2025.
Before that, she spent two years covering education at KUOW, reporting extensively on mounting financial challenges in Seattle Public Schools and districts across Washington state. Her coverage also centered 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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'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.
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Some WA Head Start programs still can't access federal funds a week after short-lived freeze
Some Head Start programs in Washington may be forced to shut down if their access to federal funds isn't restored soon.
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Nation’s report card: WA student achievement gaps widen, Covid struggles continue
The results from the latest “nation’s report card” are out — and it’s not pretty. Washington students haven’t bounced back from the vast academic declines of the pandemic, and the state’s achievement gaps are worsening.
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Trans students could be banned from competing in girls’ sports in Washington state
Washington may join a growing number of states limiting how transgender youth can participate in sports.
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Washington schools chief issues new guidance on protecting immigrant students
As schools across Washington brace for a crackdown on immigration under President Donald Trump, the state’s top education official has issued new guidance on state and federal protections for immigrant students.
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In era of budget cuts, Washington schools chief calls for more ed funding
The state’s top education leader says this year needs to be a turning point for school funding in Washington.
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UW enters federal agreement to improve response to discrimination claims
The University of Washington has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education to improve how it responds to discrimination complaints.