Sam Finn
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Sam Finn
Director of Newcomer Policy and Practice,
Californians Together
Sam Finn is director of newcomer policy and practice at Californians Together. He has worked as an elementary school teacher, academic researcher, and strategic consultant to state agencies. Finn is dedicated to supporting the field of newcomer (immigrant student) education through research, resource creation, professional development, and national organizing. He is a native of Oakland, California, where he lives and is closely connected with Oakland Unified School District. Finn received his MA in public policy analysis from the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, and his MA in elementary education and teaching from Lesley University.
updated 2023
Publications by Sam Finn
Newcomers represent a large and understudied subgroup of students in California. The Oakland Unified School District has been disaggregating data on newcomer status for the last 7 years, providing a basis for analyzing graduation outcomes for…
Every year, there are between 150,000 and 200,000 immigrant students in California who have been in U.S. schools for less than 3 years. These newcomers generally require specialized academic instruction and social services to succeed in school.…