Sam joined the FBRA community Fall of 2021 as the 7th Grade Language Arts teacher. Sam holds an M.S. in Outdoor Recreation and a B.A. in Chemistry from Indiana University. Growing up near the Great Lakes, Sam has been a lifetime enthusiast of the outdoors. He has been working in outdoor education since 2015. Sam brings experience programming and leading adventure programs from multiple institutions. While working at Voyageur Outward Bound School, Sam facilitated multi-week expeditions focusing on character development for middle and highschool students. During his time at both Indiana University and Marshall University, he taught academic and outdoor classes to facilitate learning and leadership for his students. 

Sam holds certifications as a Single Pitch Climbing Instructor, a Wilderness First Responder and a Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor. Sam is inspired by FBRA’s commitment to character development, outdoor programming, and cultural immersion. He loves combining his passions of both academic and experiential learning to provide a meaningful education for all students. In his free time, he loves exploring whitewater rivers and creeks in WNC and beyond.