Mr. Sam Verghese

As the Chief Operating Officer (acting as Deputy Superintendent) at Florida Virtual School (FLVS), Sam Verghese is tasked with leading the organization’s efforts to deliver a world-class online education to K-12 students in Florida and worldwide. FLVS provides a comprehensive, award-winning curriculum to public, private, charter, and homeschool families and school districts nationwide.

Verghese oversees all company operations, from day-to-day IT and finance work to major project initiatives like partnering with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to develop a unified education system for at-risk youth throughout the state. Additionally, he leads the strategy behind EdTech business development, ensuring the organization is on the cutting edge of new tools that support student growth. Lastly, he works closely with the human resources team to increase employee productivity through new professional development opportunities and culture-building initiatives.

After graduating from Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in religion and psychology in 2004, Verghese spent a few years as a classroom teacher helping middle and high school students at North Florida Christian School reach their potential. He quickly realized he could use his talents to serve others on a larger scale and found his way into state politics. 

As the Deputy Director of House Campaigns and the Regional Coalitions Director for the Republican Party of Florida, Verghese did just that from 2005-10. He continued to serve Floridians through his roles with the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and the Office of Governor Rick Scott. In 2014, he was appointed as the youngest Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs in state history and was later confirmed by the Florida Senate - another opportunity that perfectly aligned with his commitment to advocating for others.

In 2016, Verghese began putting his public-sector experience to work helping private-sector clients. He focused his efforts on helping Fortune 500 companies like Adobe, SalesForce, and Dell, develop technology solutions aimed at revolutionizing educational practices.

Years later, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Verghese stepped into his current role as the Chief Operating Officer (and Deputy Superintendent) for FLVS. His entrepreneurial spirit and passion for people, technology, and continual improvement positioned him to lead the organization through the pandemic and has driven the creation of innovative new programs and intellectual property that support FLVS and the organization’s national brand, FlexPoint Education Cloud.

When he’s not innovating at work, Verghese is an active member of the Florida Chamber Foundation and the Future of Work Advisory Board which advocates for career and technical education programs that align with the business needs of the future. The husband and father of three is also an active member of his church, plays guitar in the church band, volunteers as a Sunday school teacher, and champions mental health funding, programs, and initiatives. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from Liberty University, Verghese also has an MBA from Auburn University.