Dear West Geauga Resident:
As I write this note, I have been the superintendent of the
West Geauga Local School District for almost six months. During that time, I
have learned a lot about the district, its staff, and its residents. Of course,
having lived in Geauga County for many years, I had a fairly good understanding
of West G even before my hiring.
West Geauga Schools have a long history of academic
accomplishment, a fact confirmed by multiple recognitions from the Ohio
Department of Education. In 2013, West Geauga High School was honored by the
United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of
Excellence.
Our students make us proud every day. They are living proof
of the successful efforts of parents, extended family members, the schools, and
the greater community. All of these groups have a share and a stake in the
successes of our children.
The staff of West Geauga is dedicated to the care of its
children. That task requires attending to the physical, emotional, and academic
needs of the students. Every day, in classrooms, school buses, cafeterias, and
on athletic fields, teachers, support staff, administrators, and coaches
demonstrate their responsibilities toward those in their care. I enjoy the many
opportunities that I have to observe these interactions.
The residents of West G are proud of their schools. They
support them with their tax dollars and through their attendance at special
programs and athletic events. They volunteer in a host of school support
organizations. It is rare to find a district where volunteerism and private
donations match the level of ours. West Geauga Schools clearly benefit from the
collective and individual generosity of our families.
So, as you can see, West Geauga has some good reasons to be
proud. However, any district that believes itself to be as good as it could be,
quite simply, is not. All have room to improve. In our case, that means
building upon our strengths to become even stronger. It also means examining current
practices to determine if they truly achieve their intended purpose and
changing those that don’t. It means making decisions that are based upon what
is good for kids versus what is easy or convenient.
In the next few months, I will be asking the West Geauga
Board of Education and school staff to examine ways to improve our schools that
may cause us to rethink the way we do things. The corresponding questions and
discussions will ultimately yield results that will enrich educational
opportunities for our students.
Finally, as I reflect on my first six months as your
superintendent, I want to say “thank you” to the residents, students, staff,
and Board of Education for your support. It has meant a lot. I hope that the
upcoming winter break is a relaxing and rejuvenating time for all. Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and best wishes for a wonderful 2016!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rich Markwardt, Superintendent
