Our Leaders
Samantha Lock - Owner
For more than 28 years, I have dedicated my life to working with children, studying youth development, and diving deeply into the impact mindfulness and meditation can have on growing minds—especially for children with ADD/ADHD, a journey that is also personal to me. Along the way, I have been blessed to share that knowledge with children, families, schools, and communities near and far. And truly… I have the best job in the world. I get to help young people find their voice, learn how to communicate with confidence and kindness, build meaningful connections, and discover what it means to love and care for one another well. I get to create spaces where children feel safe to be themselves, where they are seen, heard, encouraged, and reminded that who they are matters.
The Studio was created to be that kind of space.
It is where my experience, education, certifications, and passion all come together—but more importantly, where heart leads the way. Every part of The Studio was built with the hope that what we pour into children here will stay with them far beyond our walls. We want our little space to be a place where children grow in confidence, compassion, resilience, leadership, and love…where they are not only learning skills, but learning how to be good humans in the world.
Because that is what this work is really about. It is about helping children feel connected to themselves, to each other, and to something bigger than themselves. It is about giving them tools to move through life with courage, calm, empathy, and joy. It is about planting seeds of mindfulness, kindness, and belonging that can ripple into families, communities, and far beyond. At The Studio, we are doing our small part to be the change this world so desperately needs and we believe children can lead the way.
The Studio was created to be that kind of space.
It is where my experience, education, certifications, and passion all come together—but more importantly, where heart leads the way. Every part of The Studio was built with the hope that what we pour into children here will stay with them far beyond our walls. We want our little space to be a place where children grow in confidence, compassion, resilience, leadership, and love…where they are not only learning skills, but learning how to be good humans in the world.
Because that is what this work is really about. It is about helping children feel connected to themselves, to each other, and to something bigger than themselves. It is about giving them tools to move through life with courage, calm, empathy, and joy. It is about planting seeds of mindfulness, kindness, and belonging that can ripple into families, communities, and far beyond. At The Studio, we are doing our small part to be the change this world so desperately needs and we believe children can lead the way.
Olivia Gray - Studio Program Coordinator
Olivia Gray grew up on the Outer Banks and has spent 15 years as a care provider for our local community. She started her career as an Activities Director for GEM Adult Day Services, a non-profit organization that cared for adults with memory loss. After becoming a mother her focus shifted towards children and she has been working with them ever since! Olivia has studied Early Childhood Education at The College of the Albemarle and for the past six years led both our Preschool and School-Age Programs during the school year and summer months.
One of my favorite things about being part of The Studio is being able to see the children I taught when they were 3 or 4 grow with us through our afterschool and camp programs. I love the lasting relationships I’ve been able to build with children and families. I’m excited for this new chapter where I can help our littlest locals learn through all the things I love the most… art, literature, nature, and PLAY!
Olivia Roughton- Preschool Lead Teacher
Hi! I'm Olivia Roughton, but my students know me as Ms. Livy! I grew up on the east coast about 45 minutes from the outer banks. I have been working with children for nearly seven years and studied Early Childhood Education at Beaufort County Community College and the University of Mount Olive. I've had the opportunity to teach children from infancy through elementary school, but preschool has truly captured my heart.
I believe the early years are the foundation for a lifelong love of learning, and I feel incredibly honored to be a small part of each child's journey. My goal is to create a classroom where children feel safe, loved, and excited to explore the world around them through hands-on learning, creativity, mindfulness, and play.
One of my favorite things about the Studio is the sense of family and the way we encourage children to learn through meaningful experiences. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors with my dog, and creating new art projects.
I can't wait to build lasting relationships with your family and make my time here full of joyful memories, growth, and learning!
