Strength In Team Staff Spotlight: Rich Sams, Technology Department
In this biweekly staff spotlight, we will be highlighting the people who contribute to the strength of our team by making our schools and our district such a special place for students.
Rich Sams, System Coordinator, Upper Arlington Schools
How do you contribute to your school/department and the school district as a whole? I act as a link between our admin, staff, and my technical team. My day-to-day is all about being where the need is greatest. I scale my support to fit the situation and head on-site whenever a problem needs some extra attention. I’m a big believer that support should be seamless and personal.
What inspires you / motivates you in your role? What motivates me is the constant change technology brings to the table. In this role, things never get stale or routine because there’s always a new challenge to tackle.
What is a memorable moment, or your proudest moment, in the 8 years you have been with UA Schools? One of my favorite parts of the job is being there for milestones like device collection/graduation. It’s rewarding to see the students at such a huge turning point in their lives and know that our team’s support helped pave the way for them.
What brings you joy outside of work? I’m pretty seasonal. When it’s warm out, I need to be outside as much as possible. You can usually find me roaming around parks with my Corgi, Nigel. Once the weather turns, I lay low and stay busy messing around with Raspberry Pi builds or 3D printing projects around the house.
Reflections from Chief Technology Officer Michael Voss on Rich: Rich is known for his personable and friendly nature, making him someone colleagues naturally feel comfortable approaching. He is always willing to lend a hand in any area where support is needed, consistently demonstrating a team-first mindset. When challenges arise, Rich doesn’t hesitate to take ownership of the issue — seeing it through from start to finish to ensure it is fully resolved. His reliability, positive attitude and commitment to getting the job done make him a valued member of our team.