Welcome to the Team, Dr. March!
Dr. Samantha March, Director of Instructional Support
The STL Pre-K Cooperative welcomes Dr. Samantha March as its founding Director of Instructional Support!
As the STL Pre-K Cooperative prepares to grow its network of partners, Samantha will lead the Cooperative’s instructional support efforts as she joins the staff at SouthSide Early Childhood Center. In this newly-created position, Dr. March will build and support a thriving network of providers that reflects the diverse settings in the St. Louis early childhood ecosystem.
Dr. March will provide customized, site-based support to Cooperative partners, including instructional coaching, professional development, student assessment resources, and guidance navigating the Missouri Accreditation process. Her work will fuel the Cooperative's mission to expand access to truly high-quality pre-K and increase kindergarten readiness for students from the most underserved communities in St. Louis.
Dr. March comes to SouthSide from St. Louis Public Schools, where she led the district's early childhood education programs as Early Childhood Director. Born and raised in St. Louis, she brings more than 15 years of local experience in urban education and incredible depth of knowledge in early childhood education. Having worked as a pre-kindergarten teacher, instructional coach, program administrator, professional development coordinator and district-wide leader, Dr. March specializes in learning through play with an emphasis on literacy. She earned her undergraduate degree and certification in Early Childhood Education from the University of Missouri - Saint Louis and holds a masters and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Maryville University.
As an active member of the PBS/Nine Network Community Advisory Board, the Office of Financial Empowerment College Kids Advisory Board, St. Louis Literacy Regional Association, The Gateway Early Childhood Alliance, City of Saint Louis Mental Health Board Trustee and the United 4 Children Regional Leadership Hub, Dr. March believes serving the community is of utmost priority. She strives daily to make an intentional impact and believes that connecting community fuels limitless learning. As a servant leader, Dr. March firmly believes all children deserve the best educational opportunities available and considers serving the youngest, most vulnerable in our community to be a lifelong commitment.
Welcome, Dr. March!