Samantha Steinman Receives MASE New Special Education Leader Award

May 15, 2026

The Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE) has named Samantha (Sam) Steinman, Director of Student Support Services for Mankato Area Public Schools, as recipient of the 2026 New Special Education Leader Award. Steinman receives this award for her commitment to students with disabilities and their families and her active involvement in professional and community affairs. She was honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASE Best Practices Conference in Brainerd on May 14, 2026.

“Seven years ago, I hired Samantha to be my assistant director—it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Having been blessed to work with so many talented leaders in special education, several of whom have won MASE leadership awards, I can attest that Samantha is in their class,” wrote Scott Hare, Executive Director of Student Support Services for Anoka-Hennepin Schools (and until July 2025, Director of Student Support Services for Mankato Area Public Schools), in his letter of support. “Since taking the Director position in July, Samantha is already moving Mankato Area Public Schools to the next level. She has demonstrated immediate strategic leadership by successfully implementing the district’s Unified courses and curriculum across the middle schools. This program, a priority for student inclusion, went from proposal to full operation in just her first quarter.”

Prior to her current position, Steinman served as Assistant Special Education Director of Mankato Area Public Schools from July 2018 until July 2025. She has also served as adjunct faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato, teaching courses in school psychology and special education.

Steinman is a dedicated member of MASE and serves as a Regional Representative on the Board of Directors. She collaborates with regional and state leaders, advocating for sustainable policies and funding to support special education services.

Beyond MASE, Steinman’s leadership extends to serving as a board member for Leisure Education for Exceptional People (LEEP) – Mankato, a nonprofit that enriches lives through inclusive recreation, sporting, and healthy living opportunities. She is also a member of her district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, Special Education Leadership Committee, and District Threat Assessment Team. She is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists and the Minnesota School Psychologists Association.

Steinman earned a Doctorate of Psychology, School Psychology, from Minnesota State University, Mankato; her Master’s in Cross-Disciplinary Studies, Special Education, and School Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato; and her Bachelor of Science, Psychology with Biology Minor from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is licensed as a Director of Special Education and holds an Educational Leadership, K-12 Principal Licensure.

MASE is a professional association organized to promote programs and services to improve the education of children with disabilities, to foster high quality programs of professional development, and to study problems relating to serving children with disabilities and improving the leadership of administrators for special education. MASE members are administrators for special education in public or private schools, cooperative regional, state and other education administrative units, college and university professors of special education teacher or administrator preparation programs, and administrators, coordinators or consultants for the Minnesota Department of Education.