I believe that our brightest and most hardworking individuals should teach our children.”

Samantha’s Story

Samantha Freiberg grew up in a family of teachers and knew from a young age that she wanted to follow the same career path as her grandmother, mother, aunts and sister.   Always a good math student, Samantha realized in college how “intricate and challenging math can be.” She believes that her own experience of being overwhelmed and frustrated in a college-level math class will help her better relate to her students.  “I want every student to learn and succeed in my class.”

As a senior in high school, Samantha helped fundraise for a trip to El Salvador to build houses with Habitat for Humanity.  She fell in love with Latin American culture. As she pursued a double major in mathematics and Latin American studies at the University of North Carolina (UNC) — Chapel Hill, Samantha took the opportunity to study abroad in Xalapa, Mexico.  She also volunteered as a tutor in local high schools and spent two years tutoring to UNC student athletes in math for the UNC athletics department.

While earning her teaching credential at Wake Forest University, Samantha student taught in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.  Many of her students came from disadvantaged backgrounds, facing challenges at home that impacted their success at school. “I tried to make the ninety minutes that my students spent with me the best ninety minutes it could be, to make their day a little better and prepare them for a brighter future.”

A North Carolina Teaching Fellow at UNC-Chapel Hill, Samantha has committed to teaching in North Carolina for at least four years upon the completion of her licensure program.  She has returned to Charlotte, NC to teach at her alma mater, East Mecklenburg High School.