Welcoming Samantha Klaren to Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa

Image caption: Meet Samantha Klaren, JAEI’s new Curriculum Director! 💙 Samantha brings 13 years of educational experience and a passion for creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences that help students build confidence and prepare for what’s next.

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is excited to welcome Samantha Klaren as our new Curriculum Director.

Samantha joined the JAEI team on April 21, 2026, bringing with her more than 13 years of experience in education and a passion for creating engaging, meaningful learning experiences for students.

Throughout her career, Samantha has focused on helping students connect classroom learning to the real world. She spent three years as a second grade teacher at Regina Catholic Education Center, six years as a Special Education teacher at Johnson STEAM Academy in the Cedar Rapids Community School District, and four years as a Special Education teacher at Bowman Woods Elementary in the Linn-Mar Community School District.

Now at JAEI, Samantha will support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Junior Achievement programs across Eastern Iowa. She will work closely with educators and principals to expand programming in ways that add value to schools while ensuring students have access to hands-on experiences that build essential life and career skills.

“What drew me to Junior Achievement was how naturally the mission aligns with what I’ve always believed about education,” Samantha said. “Students learn best when they can see the relevance of what they’re doing and how it applies beyond the classroom.”

Samantha is especially excited about strengthening partnerships with school districts and helping create connected learning experiences across grade levels.

“I want students to experience a journey of learning that intentionally builds skills, confidence, and career awareness over time,” she shared. “These experiences shouldn’t happen in isolation—they should build on one another in meaningful ways.”

One of the most important lessons Samantha hopes students gain through Junior Achievement is confidence.

“JA gives students opportunities to practice real-life decision-making in a safe environment,” she said. “That kind of hands-on learning helps students build confidence not only academically, but in their ability to navigate life beyond school.”

Samantha earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and her master’s degree from Northwestern College.

Outside of work, Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and their two young children. She also loves reading and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers.

We are thrilled to have Samantha on the JAEI team and look forward to the impact she will make as we continue preparing students across Eastern Iowa for what’s next.