Samantha is an experienced primary teacher with a strong track record of leadership in digital innovation and professional learning. As Digital Learning Lead within her school, she has successfully embedded digital technologies across the curriculum, developing staff confidence and enhancing pupil engagement. Her strategic approach to digital integration contributed to the school being awarded the Digital Schools Award in 2025, recognising excellence in the effective and meaningful use of technology in education.

Alongside her classroom practice, Samantha is an experienced mentor and union representative, supporting colleagues at all stages of their professional journey. She regularly leads professional learning both within her own school and across her local cluster, delivering high-quality, research-informed training sessions.

Committed to continual professional growth, she has undertaken a number of accredited modules to further develop her expertise in digital pedagogy, leadership, and mentoring.

Samantha works within the AI and Digital Technologies Hub, which reflects both her professional interests and her established skillset. She is particularly interested in exploring the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing teaching and learning, reducing teacher workload, raising attainment and addressing barriers to learning. 

Prior to entering the teaching profession, Samantha worked as a wildlife surveyor for an ecology company. She still very much enjoys the outdoors and runs a weekly gardening club for pupils at her school.

Samantha's particular research interests are the use of digital technologies in general and AI in particular to teach adaptively and differentiate effectively. She hopes that her time at the centre will allow her the opportunity to develop digital materials, resources and tools that will allow practitioners to address barriers to learning, reduce their workload and boost pupil engagement.