Misty Sampson was recognized with Alliance City Schools’ first-ever Compass Award. The award was created to honor staff members who have excelled in teaching or modeling one or more of the district’s core values. Sampson, a dedicated ACS staff member for the past 29 years, has made a tremendous impact on both staff and students as a teacher and now as a member of the district technology team.
“I selected Misty for her leadership with Techvemberfest,” said Superintendent Rob Gress. “She has taken a huge amount of initiative to ensure the district-wide technology professional development day is a productive use of staff members’ time and keeps ACS focused on staying progressive in using and teaching technology.”
Sampson began her teaching career in 1996 at Liberty Elementary School, where she taught 4th and 5th grade science, social studies, and language arts. She has remained with the district throughout her career. When Liberty Elementary closed, she moved to Northside Elementary School, where she became the building’s Technology Resource Teacher (TRT)—a newly created position. In this role, she taught K-5 technology and trained staff on best practices for integrating technology into the classroom. Sampson later moved to Alliance Middle School as their TRT before transitioning to the administration building to become the district TRT and a member of the technology team.
“Although I didn’t attend ACS myself, Alliance has always been home to me,” Sampson said. “I’ve lived here my entire life, and my connection to ACS runs deep—my mom worked as an elementary school secretary in the district for 32 years. As a little girl, I loved helping her in the school, which sparked my admiration for this community. Alliance gave me an incredible opportunity when they took a chance on me as a 21-year-old new teacher. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the most dedicated and inspiring educators and staff, who have shaped my journey and taught me so much.”
In her current role, Sampson brings an educational perspective to the technology department, allowing her to assess how new technology impacts staff members from all angles.
“I genuinely believe the ACS IT Team is second to none,” Sampson said. “Though we’re a small department, we share a unified vision and work seamlessly together to achieve it. Collectively, our team brings an impressive 99 years of experience in technology, which allows us to stay ahead of the curve and embrace cutting-edge advancements with confidence.”
Sampson emphasized that ACS has always been unafraid to take bold steps toward innovation, ensuring that both staff and students are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed. One of the ways the technology team supports this mission is through Techvemberfest, an annual, all-day professional development event for ACS staff, which Sampson helps plan and execute each year. While the event has evolved over time, its purpose remains the same—to empower teachers and staff to make the most of available technology. The conference-style day features a variety of sessions, led by ACS staff members and representatives from ACS’s technology partners.
“Since its inception, we’ve continually evolved Techvemberfest by adapting to staff feedback and ensuring it remains relevant to their needs,” Sampson explained. “Each year, we hear the same sentiment: Techvemberfest is the best professional development day of the year. It empowers teachers and staff by offering choices in what they learn, making the content directly applicable to their classrooms, and inspiring new ideas they can implement with students the very next day.”
Sampson’s dedication to keeping ACS progressive in technology integration has been instrumental in preparing all Aviators for life, college, and careers. As technology continues to evolve, it’s critical that students understand how to use it responsibly and effectively, ensuring they are both safe and successful beyond ACS.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be the first recipient of this award,” Sampson said. “Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of building my vision for technology from the ground up, supported by so many amazing people along the way. This recognition feels like a celebration of that shared journey. To me, this award represents not just my work, but the collective efforts of everyone who believed in and contributed to this vision of technology over the last 30 years. I am profoundly thankful to have spent my career at ACS, working alongside incredible staff and students. I truly feel that I am exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Outside of work, Sampson enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their golden retriever, Ginny, who always keeps them laughing. She also loves spending time with her close family, being active in her church community, reading, binge-watching old comedy series, and vacationing in the Outer Banks, where she enjoys reading on the beach.