Samantha Hartman '10

Legislative Staffer, Florida Senate

John Jay Fellow

Samantha Hartman earned a baccalaureate degree from Cairn University, double majoring in education and biblical studies. She attended the John Jay Institute with the fall class of 2010. Samantha’s John Jay externship was at the Polk Education Foundation, where she focused on local education policy, grant writing, and program development.

Before the John Jay Institute, Samantha anticipated making an impact on education in a classroom setting. The John Jay Institute encouraged her to consider education policy as career field. This experience led her to work in the Florida legislature.

Samantha credits the John Jay Institute with profoundly shaping her view of the value of school choice programs, and last year Samantha had the privilege of working on school choice legislation which authorized Education Savings Accounts for select students in the state of Florida.

The John Jay network of alumni has been an extremely valuable asset for Samantha as she works at the Florida Senate, providing her with contacts at key conservative institutions, such as the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and the Heritage Foundation.

In the future, Samantha would like to spend more time in the classroom, preferably at classical charter schools.  Samantha anticipates working for school choice initiatives and would consider running for elected office.