Samantha Johnson is a 2008 graduate of Sac High, who attended St. Hope Public Schools from 10th through 12th grade and left an indelible mark both on campus and far beyond it. During her time at Sac High, she was a student-athlete, playing on the basketball team and serving in student government. But it was her sophomore-year trip to Stanford that changed the course of her life. Inspired by the beauty of the campus and the encouragement of then-principal Mr. D, a Stanford alumnus, Samantha began to envision herself as a future student there.

That vision became a reality when she was accepted to Stanford University, where she majored in African and African American Studies with a focus on urban education. Samantha is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership through the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, a program known for its equity-centered, project-based approach to preparing educators as change agents.

After college, her path took her across the country. Samantha began her career at Oak Park Prep (now PS7) in Sacramento before moving to Boston for a year of service. She then joined the founding team of a new high school in New Bedford, Massachusetts, eventually becoming vice principal. From there, she relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she was part of founding another high school and eventually served four years as principal. Today, she’s back in Sacramento doing consulting work while completing her master’s degree.

Reflecting on her time at St. HOPE Public Schools, Samantha credits the strong relationships with teachers and staff for shaping her ability to advocate for herself and helping her stay grounded in the school’s core values. She especially appreciated the sense of community, the emphasis on college preparation, and the opportunities to volunteer and travel, like the post-Hurricane Katrina service trip to New Orleans, which sparked her long-standing commitment to educational justice in the South.

To current and future SHPS students, Samantha’s advice is simple but powerful:

“Be nice to your teachers. You never know how these relationships might help shape your future, or how you might shape theirs.”