Garrettsville – The 2013-14 school year is now only weeks away and promises to be one filled with excitement and new opportunities. We should all be proud to be a part of this district. The James A. Garfield School district has a record of being one of the finest places to live, to work and to learn. It is easy to see why. Our students are eager to learn. Our teachers are dedicated and talented. Our staff works tirelessly to keep our facilities and grounds in stellar shape. Our district is fiscally responsible, and our community supports our every effort.
For these reasons, I am excited to be your Superintendent of the James A. Garfield Schools. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about who I am. First and foremost I am a husband and a father. My wife, Maria, is an educator in the Chardon Schools. We have two boys, Austin and Colin, who are active in youth sports and constantly provide Maria and me with great joy as we watch them mature academically and socially. Family is very important to me. They keep me balanced and provide tremendous counsel, support and comic relief at just the right moments. As my own children have progressed through the district, and the more involved we have become in the community, I can personally attest to the level of excellence demonstrated by everyone with whom we have interacted. High expectations and a commitment to community are alive and well at James A. Garfield. These same high expectations of excellence are deeply rooted in my personal and professional life, and I will meet the responsibility of being your next Superintendent with these same expectations. Engaging everyone in the community will be critical to maintaining the level of excellence we have all come to expect.
I will always be a teacher and I believe in the value of a strong comprehensive education for all students. While academics are the centerpiece, extra-curricular opportunities are where our students can apply all of the intangible lessons they learn from our staff such as self-respect, work ethic, teamwork, moral character and responsibility. The stellar academic program and strong extra-curricular offerings in our schools are what draw many families to our community.
My mission as your Superintendent will be to work collaboratively with our staff to establish goals that will provide all of our students with challenging opportunities inside and outside of our classrooms. These opportunities must prepare students for the demands of higher education and the 21st Century workplace. We will work together and produce results that will continue to make the entire community proud.
Finally, I would like to congratulate Mr. Chuck Klamer on his 22 years of service to our students, staff and community. His commitment is inspiring and appreciated. I wish him all the best in his retirement.
