Sam Hastings

Sam Hastings is a passionate Middle School Teacher at Spring Valley School, where she has been teaching since 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Math with minors in Physics and Statistics and has over four years of experience as a private math tutor. In 2023, Sam was awarded the prestigious Lucy Welsh Award for Excellence in Education. Beyond her teaching duties, she is actively involved in student life as a leader in the Student Council, Media Productions, and the House System, where she serves as the Altruismo House Leader.

Sam finds immense joy in witnessing the "aha!" moments when students grasp new concepts, particularly at Spring Valley, where she can tailor her teaching to different learning styles—whether visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. She is inspired by the unique perspectives neurodivergent learners bring to the classroom and loves watching them adapt and thrive.

Her teaching philosophy centers around the belief that every student has something positive to offer. While not every student may achieve academic excellence, Sam encourages them to excel in other equally valuable areas. She proudly incorporates music into her lessons to enhance memory retention, using songs to teach science concepts like the water cycle and mitosis, a fun and effective way to reinforce learning. Her students particularly enjoy memorable experiences like the volcano unit in earth science, dissections in life science, and her personal favorite—the rocks and minerals unit, where they grow crystals and break open geodes.

Sam advocates for the understanding that learning differently doesn’t mean learning incorrectly. She emphasizes that many of history’s greatest inventors and leaders had learning differences, which often come with unique strengths like creativity and problem-solving. She debunks myths about learning differences, emphasizing that they are not related to intelligence or capability.

Outside of teaching, Sam enjoys spending time with her husband, gaming, reading, and watching movies. When the weather is nice, she loves hiking, kayaking, and camping, often with her two fur babies who join her paddle-boarding adventures. She also has a love for music and singing, once even auditioning for "The Voice"! Sam is proud to be part of Spring Valley School’s supportive environment, where both students and teachers thrive in a community that understands and celebrates learning differences.