a human. a friend. a son. a father. a brother. an uncle. a husband. an education nerd. a hip-hop nerd. a writer. a designer.

sam directs the development of products + publications and co-directs the K12 Lab at the Stanford d.school, teaches, reads and writes books, speaks publicly, consults with foundations and organizations, and is a recovering sneaker fiend.

 sam has spent over 20 years working in, designing, and writing about schools and youth programs. this work has happened while working at some pretty great organizations, including AS220, Big Picture Learning, and City Year.

after his first book, Hip Hop Genius was released in 2011, he spent several years touring the world, speaking with educators and students, leading professional development sessions for and consulting to school districts, nonprofits, and foundations.

before he started working in and on schools, he went to some, including Graham & Parks Alternative Public School, Cambridge Rindge & Latin, The Mountain School, and Brown University, from which he graduated with a degree in Education and a teaching certification. he is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University, and was a Visiting Practitioner at Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Scholar-in-Residence at Columbia University's Institute for Urban and Minority Education, and a Community Fellow at the Rhode Island School of Design.

sam has been a member of the Circle for Justice Innovation for over ten years.