Samantha Potts

M.Ed.
Special Education Coordinator

Samantha Potts Photo

CREDENTIALS

  • Master of Education in Changing Education, University of Helsinki

  • Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Santa Clara University

  • USBE Professional Educator License in Mild/ Moderate Special Education

PROFESSIONAL

Samantha worked as a special education teacher in San Diego, CA before moving to Finland to pursue a master’s degree in Changing Education at the University of Helsinki. Upon completion of her degree she moved back to her home state of Utah and taught a self-contained classroom of 4th and 5th grade students before joining Gateway Academy.

PHILOSOPHY

Samantha’s educational beliefs are deeply rooted in the Nordic Education models that center on Bildung, which translates to the holistic development of well-rounded, socially responsible individuals rather than fostering academic competition. The core principles of this model that resonate with her the most are; Egalitarianism & Inclusion and Phenomenon & Inquiry-Based Learning. She believes every student, regardless of disability or socieconomic status should have access to high-quality eduction that encourages student-centered curiosity, develops critical thinking, and collaboration skills. As she believes those are the skills students need to solve real-world problems. She also believes teachers need to be facilitators of learning, guiding students through the learning process, supporting group work, driving curiosity with open-ended questions and opportunities for students to find the answers themselves instead of teachers lecturing and giving answers to facts.

PERSONAL

In her free time Samantha likes to spend time with her partner and their two dogs, Nora and Gigi. They enjoy taking the dogs hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. She has a passion for traveling and a deep love of reading.

CREATING STUDENT SUCCESS

Samantha believes academic success requires a student-centered approach to teaching where she encourages exploration of topics in creative and hands-on ways, manage class discussions, and provide resources to encourage independence.