SAM CRUZ has had the great fortune of teaching students of the school district of Whitefish Bay about music since 2003. She teaches general music to grades K4-5th. Holding a B.F.A. in Music Education from UW-Milwaukee, and an M.A. in Education from Mount Mary College, Sam also has worked as an adjunct music professor and college liaison officer for Mount Mary College. She holds Levels III Orff-Schulwerk and was fortunate to study with Jos Wuytack through Boston University. Sam held multiple positions on the Greater Milwaukee Orff Dimensions board throughout the years. Currently, Sam is on the board of the Whitefish Bay Education Foundation.

Sam has presented at local Orff and Suzuki workshops in the Southeastern Wisconsin area, and at the WMEA State Convention in Madison.
In May 2012, Sam was awarded the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee's "General Music Teacher of the Year" award. In March 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Kohl Education Fellowship. In December 2018, Sam received her National Board certification in Music: Early/Middle Childhood.