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Interim superintendent Sam Vaughters outlines vision to make Garfield Heights a "premier" district
Summary
Newly appointed interim superintendent Sam Vaughters said he wants Garfield Heights City Schools to become a "premier" district, raise its rating from three to five stars, improve customer service and prioritize recruiting and retaining high‑quality teachers.
Sam Vaughters was introduced as the interim superintendent of Garfield Heights City Schools in a district broadcast. Sean Whalen, the district's director of technology and operations, opened the program and presented Vaughters to the community.
Vaughters framed a broad goal for the district: "We want to become a premier school district, not just in the state of Ohio, but in The United States Of America." He said that aim includes improving classroom instruction, recruiting and retaining strong teachers and raising the district's current rating: "I believe right now we're a 3 star, and that's great. We wanna be a 5 star."
The interim superintendent also set operational expectations for family engagement and responsiveness, saying the district will work to "return phone calls within 24 hours" and to improve follow‑up by email. Vaughters said those steps are part of creating a consistent, high‑quality experience for students, staff and families across schools.
Whalen and Vaughters both pointed to concrete next steps tied to the academic calendar: the first day of school is Aug. 19, and a back‑to‑school community kickoff is scheduled for Aug. 22. The district did not announce policy changes or formal board actions during the broadcast; the segment was presented as an introduction and initial statement of priorities.
