Samantha A. Murray

About Samantha A. Murray

I build K-12 partnerships and programs that deploy technology solutions where they’re…

Experience

1. Founder & Principal Consultant

   Sam Catalysts, Llc

   Aug 2021 — Present

   Partner with public, nonprofit, government, philanthropic, and private sector organizations to lead qualitative research and evaluation projects and strategy consulting engagements. Provide project management, facilitation, and advisory support to enable client progress and long-term success.Serve as an expert federal peer reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Support Services and Education Innovation and Research competitive grant competitions. Work 1:1 and in small groups to guide parents through emotionally complex and high-stakes decisions about their child\'s education to help them clarify their goals, name underlying tensions, and formulate meaningful questions. Help parents develop their own strategic decision-making framework: Baltimore City Public Schools, Scots College (Sydney, Australia), Baltimore’s Promise/T. Rowe Price Foundation, MGT Consulting Group, Chrysalis Collaborations, and individual families:“Deming and K-12 Education: Understanding Variation for Continuous Improvement.” Presented at the Annual Bryce Canyon Society Deming Forum. Southern Utah University.(2022)“Developing a Student Experience Conceptual Framework: A School Climate and Ecological Systems Perspective.” American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.(2021)

Education

• University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

  MSEd, Education Policy

  2005

• Duke University

  AB, Public Policy Studies

Skills

• Grants
• School-Based Performance Management
• Program Evaluation
• Data Analysis
• Survey Design
• Policy Analysis
• Research
• Program Development
• Teaching
• Nonprofits
• Public Speaking
• Qualitative Research
• Education Policy
• Non-Profits
• Leadership