Westlake BOE introduces new superintendent

New Westlake City Schools Superintendent Geoff Palmer addresses the audience at Dover Intermediate School on Aug. 25. Photo by Denny Wendell

Geoffrey Palmer, the interim superintendent of the Westlake Schools for this school year, was introduced to the community at a reception at Dover Intermediate School prior to the Aug. 25 board of education meeting.

Westlake school board President Carol Winter announced Palmer by saying, “He is here to do wonderful things for Westlake. One of the things that struck us as a board when he interviewed, was that he made it clear that he wasn’t looking at this as an interim position, even if it was for 12 months. He was looking at making Westlake the best Westlake city schools in the time that he is here. Anytime you bring new folks into a district we bring fresh eyes to the district and that’s great thing.”   

Palmer comes to the district after previously heading the West Geauga schools for two years and before that he was superintendent of the Hopewell-Loudan district for nine years.

Palmer was enthusiastic in his remarks to the audience, who came out to meet the new superintendent and tour the new intermediate school – in the renovated former home of Lee Burneson Middle School.

“I’m really humbled to be here, it is a tremendous school district. The opportunity to become a part of this team and to keep moving things forward is one that I’m very honored to have. The team that I’m with has been outstanding, but at the same time, the people in the community have really made it a smooth transition. I’m really looking forward at becoming part of the community and doing the best for our kids. I’m very excited.”