Ed.D. in Educational Administration & Leadership, 2009
School of Education
January 1, 2010
Educator Gives Back to His Community as Teacher, Administrator, Community Leader, and Volunteer
As an educator, Dr. Reginald Sample has worked 13 consecutive years as an Education Specialist and administrator at both the district and school site levels, which includes working at Cimarron Avenue School and Henry Clay Junior High School, his elementary and junior high alma maters in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). He deliberately chose to work at these specific schools, because he attended them and grew up in the Hawthorne-Inglewood community.
From an early age, Dr. Sample played an active role in his community and was awarded numerous certificates and trophies for his academic and athletic accomplishments and his community service. He believes that growing up in this community with support and encouragement from a loving family had a positive impact on his life educationally, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
My mother, a retired LAUSD teacher and community leader who became physically disabled, was my inspiration to teach, be a leader in the community, and provide public service to others, particularly those with disabilities. Growing up as a child, I witnessed many of my peers fall victim to wrong choices, due to negative influences, and unfortunately suffer the consequences for their actions. I realized that I wanted to do whatever is possible to implement effective intervention strategies that promote positive programs and choices for youth in the community. This became my passion and I looked for opportunities to be a leader and role model.
Dr. Sample learned from a young age to value eduation and to aim high. After graduating from high school, he attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he received his B.S. Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting in 1994. Next he attended CSU-Dominguez Hills, where he received his M.A degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Mild, Moderate, and Severe Disabilities in 2000. In conjunction with the M.A. program in Special Education, Dr. Sample earned credentials in both General and Special Education. He subsequently added a credential in Clear Administrative Services in conjunction with a second M.A. in Educational Administration. Dr. Sample received his doctorate degree in K-12 Urban Educational Leadership through the CSU/UCI Joint Ed.D. Program in Educational Administration and Leadership, on September 16, 2009. His dissertation was entitled: A Case of Black Male: The Overrepresentation of African American Males in Special Education As Emotionally Disturbed (ED).
In 13 years of educational service (five years as a special education teacher, two years as a general education teacher, and six years as an administrator), Dr. Sample first worked at the local district office as a Program Specialist. He was promoted to Least Restrictive Environment Specialist within one year. Within six months he was promoted to Instructional Specialist Administrator at Horace Mann Middle School Ten Schools Program, and six months later to assistant principal. Dr. Sample currently is the senior assistant principal at the school site. In this capacity he supports stakeholders in implementing and improving instructional programs to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. He also serves as one of the administrators overseeing the special education programs, attendance, operations, and discipline at the school site.
Reflecting on Dr. Sample’s capabilities and contributions, school administrators commented:
It has been an honor having Dr. Reginald A. Sample train support providers and teach students with typical and exceptional needs. He has taught “Gifted” and “Talented” and “Learning Disabled,” and “Resource” to students with moderate/severe disabilities (Aphasic, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders, Autisms, Asperger Disorder, Visually and Hearing Impaired, and Developmentally Disabled).
In his leadership role, Dr. Sample has worked collaboratively with the Division of Special Education in the development and implementation of a district-wide Paraeducator Training Academy to assist paraeducators in providing services to students with learning disabilities throughout the district. He has compiled and co-published The Spectrum of Behavior Support Manual to support local district administrator with positive behavioral interventions of students, and has presented his work on culturally responsive leadership, and on the overrepresentation of African American male students in special education as emotionally disturbed at several conferences. These include the American Educational Research Association, the Western Regional Council on Educating Black Children Conference- Los Angeles, the Association of Pan African Doctoral Scholar’s Annual Colloquium, the UCI/CSU Regional Research Symposium, and the California State University/University of California Joint Ed.D. Third Annual Educational Research Institute.
As a long-time community member and an alumnus of Cimarron Avenue School (class of ‘84) and Henry Clay Junior High School (class of ‘87), Dr. Sample has built first-name-basis relations with parents and South Bay business and community leaders. His service activities have included coaching little league sports, delivering youth tutorials, promoting community beautification, working on gang-risk intervention programs, engaging in employee training and recruitment, and serving on a myriad of fundraiser committees as a strong supporter of charity in local religious and health organizations.
Dr. Sample is affiliated with the following professional organizations: Council of Black Administrators (COBA) as Executive Board Member and Financial Officer; Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA); Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development (ASCD); Society of Scholars and Educators; California Association of Resource Specialists Plus (CARS+); The Council of Exceptional Children; Mortar Board National Honor Society; Delta Mu Delta National Business Honor Society; and American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Dr. Sample is recognized as Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and has served as a lecturer at Alliant International University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. He hosts fundraisers and community events sponsored by his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and provides special education consulting to local and state certified educational agencies through his business CapABILITIES Educational Services.
In reflecting on his educational journey, Dr. Sample shares:
I am truly grateful for my parents and older brother for being great role models. I am also very appreciative for Dr. Lawson Bush V, the Director of the CSULA joint doctoral program (my mentor and dissertation chair); Dr. Ruth Johnson (CSULA professor and mentor); and Dr. Ann De Vaney, Dr. Nancy Christensen, and Leora Fellus of UC Irvine for their belief in the value of my contributions to the joint doctoral program and for their continuous support for my completing my doctorate.
2014 Update: Dr. Sample is Principal of Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. He has been honored for his community activitism in the “Walk a Mile in my Shoes” art display at Jefferson Boulevard and Rodeo Rode.