As Director of Instruction and School Design, Sam combines experience as a Principal and a classroom teacher with expertise in data systems and public policy to support Springpoint’s partners in school design and instruction. Prior to joining Springpoint, she was the co-founder and co-principal of Bronx Arena High School, a transfer school serving New York City’s overage and under-credited students. At Bronx Arena, Sam oversaw the development of many of the school’s unique youth development features including fully blended, asynchronous, mastery-based classrooms and an original data tracking system for students and staff.

Prior to Bronx Arena, she worked as a middle school teacher and Science Department Chair for several years at a 6th-12th grade school in the South Bronx. There, she helped to implement blended instruction through project-based learning and worked to restructure the Science curriculum to meet the needs of the high school’s expansion. In addition to her work in schools, Sam has worked with public and private agencies around public policy, politics, and data systems.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Policy from the Honors Program at the University of Connecticut, a Master of Arts in Education from Lehman College, and a Master of Arts in School Leadership and Education Policy from Bank Street College of Education.