06/04/2026
Teacher Spotlight: Meet the Founder & Lead Teacher of Mt. Olive Microschool
Hi everyone! I realized recently that while I share a lot about our students, projects, and school life, I’ve never really properly introduced myself and shared the background behind Mt. Olive Microschool and the educational philosophy that shaped it.
My name is Samantha Lane, and I am the founder, lead teacher, and administrator of Mt. Olive Microschool.
I graduated from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education and a minor in Political Science. I then received my teaching certificate in Education at National University. I hold teaching credentials/licenses in both California and Arkansas in English Education and English Language Learning/ESL instruction.
Before founding Mt. Olive Microschool, I spent approximately 10 years teaching in public education, including teaching at a continuation high school serving students with incredibly diverse academic and life backgrounds. Many of my students were credit recovery students, pregnant or parenting teens, students returning from juvenile programs, students with behavioral challenges, or students who simply had not thrived in a traditional school environment.
That experience profoundly shaped me as a teacher.
I quickly learned that students do not all learn the same way, at the same pace, or through the same methods. In a single classroom, I often taught students reading anywhere from elementary levels through high school levels, all while still being responsible for helping them master state standards and prepare for life after graduation.
Some students were preparing for college. Others were preparing for careers in the trades or workforce. My job was to help each individual student grow from where they were academically and personally, and that experience deeply shaped the mastery-based and differentiated instructional model we use at Mt. Olive today.
I also taught career readiness courses where students learned practical life and workforce skills including resume writing, cover letters, job applications, interview preparation, and college entrance preparation.
In addition to public education, I spent 7 years teaching English language learners virtually through an international education company, teaching students in China from kindergarten through high school in subjects taught entirely in English while also helping students develop English fluency.
Outside of education, I also served as the CEO of a shipping and receiving company, where I managed operations, ordering, shipping, receiving, HR, budgeting, invoicing, and day-to-day business administration. I later worked as an executive administrative assistant within a large engineering consulting firm supporting senior engineering staff through technical writing, report editing, invoicing, budgeting, and project coordination.
Those experiences gave me extensive real-world administrative and operational experience that now directly supports the work of running Mt. Olive Microschool and managing our nonprofit organization.
I personally completed and submitted our 501(c)(3) application, have written and secured multiple grants for the school, and currently help oversee both the day-to-day operation of the school and the construction of our new school building.
Perhaps most importantly, before opening Mt. Olive Microschool, I homeschooled my own children. Through homeschooling, I saw firsthand how powerful mixed-age learning can be. I discovered that students often thrive when they are learning together through shared subject matter while still receiving individualized instruction and assignments tailored to their personal level and needs.
Older students reinforce mastery when concepts are revisited and explained again, while younger students benefit from early exposure to advanced concepts long before formal instruction begins. That collaborative learning environment became one of the foundational ideas behind Mt. Olive Microschool.
In addition to teaching, I’ve also coached cheerleading, basketball, and currently help coach softball alongside my husband.
Mt. Olive Microschool was built from years of experience in education, homeschooling, administration, business leadership, and a deep belief that children learn best when they are truly known, challenged, supported, and taught as individuals.
I’m incredibly thankful for the families who have trusted us with their children, and I’m excited to continue building something special together here in our community.
