Samantha K. Dykes

Samantha K. Dykes is an instructional coach at the Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, where she leads professional development focused on innovation and student engagement. Since beginning her education career in 2011, she has taught K–5 and 6–9 English learners as well as grades 3–4 general education and has served as an online learning coach. Dykes has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and English learning at Coe College and the University of Dubuque in Iowa. She coauthored Classrooms in Motion: Using Learning Stations for High Student Engagement in Grades K–5 with Rachel E. Morris and Shanna K. Helmke, and she is the author of The AI Balancing Act: Policies, Practices, and Purpose for Schools, which provides a roadmap for ethically and systematically implementing AI in K–12 settings.

Dykes earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a K–12 English as a second language endorsement from Iowa State University. She holds master’s degrees in English language learning and educational technology from Western Governors University and a master’s degree in administration with a principal endorsement from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. In addition to writing and coaching, she works with schools through Solution Tree as a presenter on AI in schools and student engagement.