Sam Zimmerman joined the Oshki Ogimaag team in the fall of 2025, serving as our Director of Special Education. Zimmerman also currently serves as a Supervisor in Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment Division at MDE (Minnesota Department of Education), where he supports academic standards implementation and indigenous contributions into K-12 instruction and collaborates with educators statewide. Previously, Zimmerman served as the Deputy Director of Special Education (overseeing special education across 255 schools and 130,000 students) and contributed to statewide policy through the New York State Department of Education. Zimmerman has Professional Administration credentials that include a District Superintendent License and a Director of Special Education license. Zimmerman is a direct descendent of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and is enthusiastic about serving the students of Grand Portage. Beyond K-12 education, Zimmerman is an accomplished Ojibwe artist and author, leading community arts events, reflecting deep cultural engagement, including a large mural at the Cook County Co-Op in downtown Grand Marais!