Sami West

Seattle Public Schools’ new superintendent will start in February with $425,000 contract It’s official: Seattle Public Schools has hired its next superintendent, a district leader from Michigan, to begin working on Feb. 1.

It’s official: Seattle Public Schools has hired its next superintendent, a district leader from Michigan, to begin working on Feb. 1.
www.kuow.org/stories/seat...

Seattle School Board names lone superintendent finalist, a district leader recruited from Michigan An experienced district leader from Michigan is set to become the next superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.

BREAKING: An experienced district leader from Michigan is set to become the next superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.
www.kuow.org/stories/seat...

Congress has cut federal funding for public media, putting your access to local news and programming at risk. This is the moment to join our community of supporters. You’ve depended on KUOW and NPR across the decades. Today, we’re counting on you. bit.ly/3UgOIc9

KUOW statement: Congress votes to rescind public media funding Today, Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for public media that had been approved earlier this year. This funding was intended to support public broadcasters through fiscal year...

Today, Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for public media that had been approved earlier this year. This funding was intended to support public broadcasters through fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

I'm going to miss the education beat — AKA the best beat — dearly. It's been an honor to cover schools for over SIX YEARS. But I'm so excited for this next chapter. My family — especially my brother — has inspired a lot of this work. Now, I FINALLY get to be closer to them.

Lucky for me, I get to keep working remotely at KUOW through the summer, filling in as an online editor & reporter. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get some editing experience — and, most of all, to keep working at this stellar station for a little while longer. 🤍

I have a bit of ✨personal news ✨ to share: After two incredible years in Seattle, covering education at KUOW, I'm shifting gears. I've moved back home to the Twin Cities area to be closer to my family.

Proposal to limit transgender athletes' participation in sports blocked in Washington state Washington state’s governing body for middle and high school athletics has determined proposed rule changes limiting how transgender students can participate in sports would violate state laws.

NEW: WA state's governing body for school athletics has determined that proposed rule changes for transgender student athletes would violate state law.

That means, even if the proposals pass next month, they won't take effect.
www.kuow.org/stories/prop...

Politics and change: Why Seattle Public Schools' superintendent is stepping down When Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones announced he’s leaving the district this fall, he said the decision came from a desire to spend time with family.

Sat down with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones, who reflected on his tenure leading Washington's largest public school district over the last four years, and why he says it's time to leave.

More here:
www.kuow.org/stories/poli...

Washington schools chief blasts 'cruel chaos' of executive order to eliminate the Department of Education Washington state’s top education official is speaking out against President Donald Trump’s long-awaited executive order calling for the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education.

Reykdal called Trump's order "a cruel chaos that has been intentionally designed to promote a school privatization agenda and undo a 60-year commitment to equity and civil rights that lies at the heart of our democratic system." Read more from @samiwest.bsky.social via @kuow.org 👇

In case you missed this over the weekend: Former Senior Deputy Mayor Monisha Harrell described what it was like working for Mayor Bruce Harrell.

Seattle Public Schools superintendent to step down this fall After "much reflection and heartfelt conversations," Superintendent Brent Jones announced he's leaving the top job at Washington's largest public school district.

Big news today: The leader of Seattle Public Schools is stepping down this fall.
www.kuow.org/stories/seat...

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.

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.

www.kuow.org/stories/wash...

How is Trump's crackdown on DEI affecting your school? KUOW wants to hear from you In his first month back in the White House, President Donald Trump has already made strides toward fulfilling his campaign promise to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in American schools.

WA educators/school staffers/students/families: Have you noticed any changes — concrete policy changes, or a chilling effect — since Trump took office and began his crackdown on DEI? We want to hear from you!
www.kuow.org/stories/how-...

‘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.

Washington’s top education leader says schools shouldn’t make any changes in response to the Trump administration’s recent edict to axe race-based initiatives by the end of the month.

www.kuow.org/stories/we-a...

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 ...

The results from the latest “nation’s report card” are out — and it’s not pretty.

Washington students have not bounced back from the academic declines of the pandemic, and the state’s achievement gaps are worsening, according to 2024 NAEP scores out Wednesday.

www.kuow.org/stories/the-...

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 immigran...

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.
New from me today: www.kuow.org/stories/wash...

With school cutbacks in the air, Seattle parents embrace neighborhood schools As several Seattle schools faced the threat of closure this past year, KUOW decided to look at the role schools play in a neighborhood, and the sometimes hidden ways they knit together a community.

Parents and staff from schools that had been on the chopping block say they're relieved. But they're nervous for what's ahead — whether it's closures in years to come, or their beloved schools being gutted by budget cuts.

www.kuow.org/stories/with...

What Trump's second term could mean for education in Washington President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House has raised a lot of questions about how policies he’s pushed could affect public education.

I've heard lots of chatter-- and I'm sure you have too -- about what happens if President-elect Donald Trump makes good on campaign promises to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
I dig into that issue and what Trump 2.0 might mean for education in WA here:
www.kuow.org/stories/what...

Do you have trouble seeing the road at night in Seattle when it's dark and wet?

Seattle Now is working on an episode about road visibility.

Tell us about your experiences and what the culprits are!

Give us a call at 206 616 6746 and leave us a voicemail.

@kuow.org

Seattle Public Schools drops contentious closure plan following months of waffling amid backlash Seattle Public Schools’ plan to shutter four schools next fall is dead — at least for now.

Updated story: The Seattle School Board has unanimously approved Superintendent Brent Jones' withdrawal of plans to close four elementary schools. Parents at those schools are celebrating.
www.kuow.org/stories/seat...

The United States now has:
• 45,020 reporters
• 275,550 public relations specialists

For every reporter, there are now six PR people.

(data via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Seattle's school closure plan is dead — for now Seattle Public Schools’ plan to shutter four schools next fall is dead — at least for now.

Breaking: Seattle Public Schools’ plan to shutter four schools next fall is dead — at least for now.
www.kuow.org/stories/seat...

Seattle may not close elementary schools, after all In a stunning reversal, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones said Tuesday he may not recommend closing schools, after all.

So this happened last night: In a stunning reversal, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones said Tuesday he may not recommend closing schools, after all.

www.kuow.org/stories/seat...