Thursday, October 1, 2026
For Oceanside Middle School teacher Samantha Herman, social studies is more than just memorizing dates and studying the past — it is about teaching students that they have the power to shape the future.
That philosophy has earned Herman the Outstanding Middle/Junior or High School Untenured Teacher award, from the Long Island Council for the Social Studies, after an extensive application and selection process.
Herman, 26, who lives in Oceanside, received the award during a ceremony on June 4 at LIU Post’s Roosevelt House in Brookville.
“I was really shocked and surprised and happy,” Herman said. “I didn’t even know that I had been nominated. It was really heartwarming.”
Her nomination was spearheaded by Joseph LaTorre, an Oceanside Middle School English language arts teacher who works closely with Herman on the Oceanside School District’s Bridges Program, a six-year cohort initiative designed to foster relationships among students from different communities and backgrounds.
LaTorre said Herman stood out not only for her classroom instruction, but for her commitment to students beyond the school day.
“She’s always looking for a way to elevate,” LaTorre said. “She says yes to so many things and maintains such a high level of performance despite that. She’s showing up ready to play every day.”
As part of the nomination process, LaTorre and several colleagues compiled letters of recommendation, student work samples and lesson materials pulled from Herman’s classroom. The package was submitted to the social studies organization’s review board earlier this spring.
In his nomination letter, LaTorre highlighted Herman’s belief that “social studies should create agents of change, not just informed citizens,” a philosophy Herman said guides nearly every aspect of her teaching.
“One of the most important parts of social studies is really making students know that they have the power to actually go out into the world and do something,” Herman said.
That mission is reflected in the civic capstone projects completed by her students each year. During the monthlong assignment, students identify local or statewide issues they believe should be addressed, research potential solutions and, in some cases, contact elected officials or school administrators to advocate for change.
Recently, one of Herman’s students earned recognition from New York state for a civic capstone project.
Herman said teaching civics at the middle school level is especially important because students are approaching the age when they will become active participants in democracy.
“In four years, these kids are going to be voting for the next president,” she said. “It’s important to teach them that they do make an impact.”
Outside the classroom, Herman serves as adviser for Builders Club, the middle school counterpart to Key Club, and as teacher coordinator for Best Buddies, a program that builds friendships between general education and special education students.
She also helps lead the Bridges Program, alongside LaTorre, bringing together students from Oceanside and Uniondale for conversations about current events, politics and social issues.
“It’s really nice to see how the students use the skills they learn in the classroom, like respectful debate and respectful conversations,” Herman said. “The students end up building real relationships.”
Herman said many of the programs she oversees share a common goal: creating a stronger sense of community and encouraging students to make a positive difference wherever they can.
Through Builders Club, students participate in community service projects throughout the year, including volunteering at local events, visiting senior living communities and organizing a Thanksgiving food drive that provides meals to district families in need.
“We’re really just building a sense of community,” Herman said. “Even the small acts of kindness matter.”
LaTorre said Herman’s dedication comes at a time when educators face growing challenges, including maintaining authentic student engagement in the age of artificial intelligence and social media.
“I think kids can tell when teachers are putting them in a position to do something great,” he said. “Sam does a great job of making students feel like they can do it and helping them understand why they’re doing it.”
Mitch Bickman, the district’s director of social studies for K-12, praised Herman’s commitment to students and innovation in the classroom.
“Ms. Herman is an exceptional educator whose innovation, dedication and passion for social studies have made a profound impact on our school community,” Bickman said. “Her commitment to thoughtful, student-centered instruction and her leadership beyond the classroom make her truly deserving of this recognition.”
Herman, now teaching in her third year at Oceanside Middle School, earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Michigan in 2021 before receiving her master’s degree in secondary social studies education from New York University in 2022.
She said the recognition from the Long Island Council for the Social Studies has been especially meaningful early in her career.
“It definitely means a lot,” she said. “It’s really reassuring that what I’m doing is making a difference.”
She credited her colleagues and the culture at her school for helping foster that success.
“I drive to school every day excited to come here,” Herman said. “The relationships with the students and staff make teaching so much more meaningful.”
