Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
An Orange County native was recently announced as the new executive vice president and chief financial officer of Project Lead The Way, a national education nonprofit based in Indianapolis.
Samuel Adams is leading financial, budget and investment strategies for PLTW, an organization that provides PreK-12 curriculum and professional development to classrooms across the United States. PLTW’s goal is to empower teachers to create an environment where every student is STEM successful.
Adams grew up in Valeene, a small community south of Paoli. As a teen, he worked at Paoli Peaks and said he has fond memories of visiting the French Lick Hotel before the casino was added.
He and his wife are 2003 graduates of Paoli High School, where he said dedicated teachers would challenge students.
“While attending Paoli Schools, I was fortunate to have passionate and dedicated teachers throughout my K-12 education that were committed to student success both in and out of the classroom,” he said. “While PLTW wasn’t available to me at that time, I remember specific examples of the activity, project, and problem-based approach being used intermittently in my STEM courses, particularly for special exercises and final projects.”
Adams said it was when teachers departed from the traditional approach that students could demonstrate their technical, leadership and teamwork skills.
“For some students, this created a space for them to showcase those skills to classmates and teachers for the first time. What left an even larger impression on me was the excitement and positive energy from teachers as they witnessed students who were having fun while being fully engaged in the subject matter and eager to learn more. In those moments, I think my classmates and I found ourselves questioning why class can’t be like this all the time,” Adams said.
From IU to PLTW
Adams is a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and spent the past 10 years working at IU in various capacities.
A Certified Public Accountant, while at IU he was the associate vice president for budget, finance and strategic planning. Prior to that, he served as interim vice president and chief financial officer, associate chief financial officer, associate director for financial analysis and planning, and assistant director for auxiliary accounting.
Looking back, he pointed to his PHS business teacher, Lila Tucker, for making a significant impact on his life and career choice.
“Mrs. Tucker frequently stepped away from the traditional teaching methods of lecturing and coursework and challenged students to work on interactive business models and simulations. I think this was the closest to hands-on experience available at the time and provided an alternative path to educating students on the concepts of finance, accounting, and business administration,” he recalled.
“That classroom and Mrs. Tucker’s innovative teaching methods were special to me then and now, and I see many connections between her methods back then and the PLTW approach today. It was one of the first places where hands-on, activity-based learning intersected with interests and skills that I didn’t know I had at the time, and it set me on a course for future success at IU Kelley School of Business and now in industry.”
‘Listen, learn and engage’
Adams said he is excited to be part of an innovative organization that supports educators and prepares students for success in the classroom and in life.
“Before I joined this organization, two of my children had already participated in PLTW and I’ve witnessed first-hand the positive impact it has had on their educational journey. I think all students in PreK-12 deserve that opportunity, now more than ever,” he added.
The PLTW curriculum can benefit any school, no matter the size or setting. Small, rural schools, in particular, can benefit from the vast network of PLTW resources.
“PLTW supports these schools by providing seamless access to the educational tools and training necessary to empower teachers while also getting students excited about STEM education,” Adams said. “A great benefit of being part of PLTW’s network is the high level of resources a school and district receives. We are a nationwide network with localized support. PLTW’s goal is to work alongside schools to listen, learn, and engage with educators and communities to expand access and opportunities for students and teachers, even those in rural and remote locations.”