Samantha Gorley

Work-based Learning Coordinator

samantha.gorley@readyCT.org

Samantha joined the ReadyCT team in April 2022. She started her career as a teacher at Achievement First (Hartford, CT) where she also coached basketball. After her time teaching, she coached pre-service teachers in Harlem, New York. Next, in 2012, Samantha joined Teach For America Connecticut as a manager of teacher leadership development, coaching teachers in their first and second years of service in communities across Connecticut, including Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, and Willimantic. 

Samantha holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and studied law at Quinnipiac University School of Law with a focus on family and juvenile law. Her previous nonprofit experience includes working as a program manager at Right At School. No matter where her education and career take her, Samantha remains focused on her primary passion: advocating for children.


I have gotten to where I have in my own life through self-advocacy. It is my goal to support the students I serve so that they can fully explore themselves and their career options. When students can assess their own personal and professional abilities and strengths as well as areas for growth, and also develop strong work habits and mindsets, they can make well-informed decisions about their careers. With self-advocacy skills, nothing will be able to hold students back from navigating their own lives to make their dreams a reality.