About SAM
Visionary leaders united in providing, advocating, and creating education excellence for Montana students!
SAM was organized as an association of administrators in 1971. SAM represents the interests, aspirations, and professional leadership of Montana administrators. Over 1000 members network under six affiliate associations to promote GREAT Montana Schools, supporting leaders passion for providing an outstanding education to Montana's children! (SAM 50 Year Anniversary Celebration Video)
SAM Core Purpose
SAM ... Visionary leaders united in providing, advocating, and creating education excellence for Montana students!
SAM Core Values
- Leadership: We believe that instructional leadership provided by school administrators is essential for empowering, inspiring, engaging, and helping students to grow, succeed, and lead.
- Integrity & Professionalism: We promote and demonstrate the highest level of integrity and professionalism, both organizationally and individually. We believe it is these traits that create the foundation vital for success.
- Advocacy: We serve as a united, proactive organization of educational leaders that advocate for State and National legislation to ensure Montana students will receive a quality education supported by adequate and sustainable funding. We strive to assure that all students have equal access, are safe and healthy, and will be successful.
- Professional Learning & Services: We believe that high quality professional development, mentorship, and supportive member services are critical to individual member and Montana student success.
SAM Big Audacious Goal
SAM is a member-led, model education organization dedicated to developing instructional leaders advocating for student success. SAM is held in highest regard by all stakeholders for providing strategies, resources and tools to positively impact educational excellence for all Montana students.
SAM Goals 2018-22
Professionalism, Integrity, and Leadership: SAM models and promotes the highest levels of professionalism, integrity and leadership of its affiliates to create a foundation vital to success.
Advocacy: SAM members will be equipped with accurate information and prepared to use it to advocate for public education.
Professional Learning and Services: SAM will extend and expand the professional learning delivery system using the expertise of the SAM affiliates, as well as other service providers through professional development, mentorship, and other member services.
Affiliate Organizations
SAM is comprised of six affiliate organizations each of which are divided regionally within its own organization. The regions provide an opportunity for members to gather on a local level to discuss topics of interest.
- Montana Association of School Superintendents (MASS): Members of MASS serve as school superintendents, assistant superintendents, or other central office personnel who hold titles with line staffing equivalent to that of assistant superintendent.
- Montana Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP): Members of MASSP are engaged in the administration and supervision of secondary schools or teach courses in education at institutions of advanced learning.
- Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals (MAEMSP): Members of MAEMSP are employed in professional work related to the elementary and middle level principalship.
- Montana Association of County School Superintendents (MACSS): MACSS serves as a liaison between schools, the state and county governments and the taxpayer, as well as administer the small stand-alone elementary school districts.
- Montana Council of Administrators of Special Education (MCASE): Members of MCASE administer, direct, supervise, and/or coordinate a program, school or class of special education for exceptional children or are members of a college faculty whose major responsibility is the professional preparation of administrators of special education.
- Montana Educational Technologists Association (META): META members endeavor to unite educational technologists for the purpose of advocating for and supporting the visions, policies, practices and funding for technology within all aspects of teaching, learning, and professional productivity.
