Nationally Renowned World Language Educator Joins Eugene Company
Media Contact: Jennifer Richardson – 541.246.2043
EUGENE, ORE. – Avant Assessment is excited to bring an acclaimed educator and world language advisor, Dawn Samples, to its Eugene team. Samples assumed the role of Director for Professional Learning in July 2019.
Samples is a champion for advancing public education and multilingualism. Her impact at local, state, national, and even international levels over the last 20 years has been recognized through prestigious professional awards.
In 2017, Samples earned the Supervisor of the Year award for her world language instruction initiatives and leadership in staff and program development. She also received the 2015 Exemplary World Language Program award, which honored her work as World Languages and Immersion Program coordinator in Lexington, South Carolina. These accolades and others demonstrate her leadership in the field of language learning and assessment.
“Dawn is a pioneer in the language-learning world and we are excited to have her on our team,” said Avant Assessment Co-founder and CEO David Bong. “She built an amazing proficiency-based language program in Lexington, South Carolina, that is the envy of the country.”
Samples joins Avant Assessment following 15 years as the World Languages and Immersion Program coordinator for the Lexington County School District. She was recognized with the 2014 National First Place Magna Award for Excellence and Innovation.
“Dawn is a pioneer in the language-learning world and we are excited to have her on our team”
“I am thrilled to join the Avant Assessment team to develop language proficiency programs nationally and internationally,” said Samples. “I have devoted my professional life to language learning and education, and I look forward to helping Avant continue its mission to inspire learners to grow and teachers to be more effective.”
Samples is excited to immerse herself in the Lane County community and already has experience working with the Eugene 4J School District. She was also a grant and pilot program participant with the University of Oregon’s Center for Applied Second Language Studies. This work later evolved into Avant’s STAMP 4Se test, the only language proficiency test designed for elementary students.
About Avant Assessment: Co-founded in 2001 by David and Sheila Bong and Dr. Carl Falsgraf, Avant builds and delivers STAMP, the world’s first online four-skill language proficiency assessment. Avant assesses real-world proficiency by pairing innovative computer adaptive and artificial intelligence technologies with human scoring. Avant’s assessments all align with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Scale. Each assessment is designed to inspire learners to grow and teachers to be more effective. For more information, go to morelearning.avantassessment.com
