About Us
Zenith College And Career Prep
Designed with Maryvale. Built for Maryvale. Focused on the Future.
Zenith College and Career Prep is a purpose-driven high school where students discover their strengths, explore their future, and rise as leaders for their community.
Rooted in the vibrant Maryvale community of Phoenix, Zenith is being built in partnership with families, students, and community leaders through surveys, focus groups, and community forums to ensure the school reflects the hopes, strengths, and aspirations of the community it serves.
Students engage in rigorous Pre-AP, AP, and dual enrollment coursework while exploring career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Through hands-on learning, college partnerships, and real-world experiences such as internships and mentorships, students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in college and in high-demand careers.
At Zenith, learning is personal, challenging, and connected to the future. In a small, relationship-centered environment, students are known, supported, and inspired to grow academically, lead with character, and serve something greater than themselves.
We believe every young person deserves a high school that builds purpose, confidence, and opportunity, and prepares them to shape the future of their community.
Dr. Jay Samant
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Jay Samant is the Founder and CEO of Zenith College and Career Prep, an early college STEAM high school designed to expand college and career opportunities for students in the Maryvale community of Phoenix. He brings more than 16 years of experience across K–12 and higher education, focused on building strong school cultures and pathways that prepare students for college, careers, and leadership. Dr. Samant was nationally selected as a BES Fellow, one of the country’s most competitive fellowships for launching high-performing public charter schools. Through this program, he studied exemplary schools across the nation and refined Zenith’s vision as a community-rooted early college high school.
Before founding Zenith, Dr. Samant served in multiple leadership roles in Colorado, including Founding Assistant Principal of Instruction, High School Principal, and later as a network leader serving as Director of Academic Readiness & College Success with STRIVE Prep. He also served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs – High School to College Connections at the Community College of Denver, where he expanded dual enrollment and early college pathways for first-generation and multilingual students.
His leadership has been recognized through honors including the ColoradoBiz GenXYZ Top 50 Young Professionals Finalist, Rocky Mountain’s Finest Young Professionals Award, and Binghamton University’s “10 Under 10” Alumni Award.
Dr. Samant is deeply committed to the Phoenix community. He serves on the Education Partnerships Committee of the Phoenix Community Alliance, the Advisory Council for the Arizona Educational Foundation, and as Vice President of the Arizona Asian American Association. He is also a member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
He founded Zenith College and Career Prep with the belief that every student deserves a high school that builds purpose, confidence, and opportunity while preparing them to thrive in college, career, and community leadership.
Meet Our Board
Robert Barlow, Ph.D.
Market People Partner, NAPA Auto Parts
George Saad, Esq.
Attorney & Founder, PLATZ JURIS, PLLC
Michael Finch, B.S.
Former Executive Vice President & Principal Founder of SVN
Jade Nangah, B.A.
Director of Content Marketing, Jet Set Productions
Lynn Palacios, M.Ed.
Instructional Coach, Barry Goldwater High School
Tom Nevill, Ph.D.
Vice President of Academic Affairs at GateWay Community College
Luis Cordova- B.S.
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Rounds Consulting Group
Veronica Sas - B.S.
Chief Financial Officer, ACCEL
