Today we’d like to introduce you to Don Goble.
Hi Don, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Chicago, IL, in 1972. In the late 1980s, my high school offered a radio and television studio class, which I immediately fell in love with, as I became the station manager for both school entities. I later attended Bradley University to major in Radio/Television Broadcast Journalism. I worked three jobs throughout college and took out personal loans to pay for my schooling. I was the Sports Director for the campus radio station and did play-by-play for the Braves baseball team. I was hired by WMBD Radio/TV, a CBS affiliate, in the fall of 1993 as a disc jockey during my collegiate senior year to work part-time. I began working full-time for the station three days after graduation as a morning show producer. I also worked at WMBD as a producer, on-air host, high school football play-by-play announcer, and television commercial producer.
I left the station in 1996 and began working for an Information Technology company in Chicago in June 1996. I transferred to a St. Louis location in 1999, until I was laid off months after September 11, 2001, that fateful day in American history. This was a blessing in disguise. That world tragedy changed my outlook and allowed me to pursue my passion to become an educator of the topics and content I love: media production and coaching sports. I worked as a substitute teacher, taking on odd jobs part-time, and worked as a volunteer baseball coach at Priory High School as I pursued my dual Missouri Teaching Certification and Masters in Education, with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction.
Fast forward 22 years, and I have become an award-winning Multimedia Instructor, international speaker, and published author. I teach grades nine through twelve at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis while serving as an adjunct professor for Loyola University New Orleans. One of my greatest professional achievements was being named the Broadcast Adviser of the Year in 2015 by the National Journalism Education Association. At Ladue, I instruct eight levels of Broadcast Technology coursework, which allows students the opportunity to learn media literacy lessons through the creation of their media projects. I also teach eight levels of Multimedia Sports Production, teaching students how to produce sports entertainment videos and graphics, which are played on our campus scoreboards. Students in my classes learn how to produce video news stories, documentaries, mobile journalism, TV studio operations, online media, digital portfolios, commercials, Public Service Announcements, narrative films, sports highlight/hype videos, graphics, and create digital portfolios. I wrote the entire curriculum for all levels of Broadcast Technology. With the help of my great colleague, Marteana Davidson, who also co-teaches our Broadcast classes, we created the Multimedia Sports Production course from scratch. In addition, we co-direct and created LHS-TV & Films, a student-produced television station and multimedia publication. Our students are responsible for “Ladue View,” a 15-minute high school-produced television news magazine show. Along with these projects, we oversee the school’s daily video morning announcements, “LHS News,” and its staff of students.
I have worked hard to build strong partnerships with local and national professionals, along with national scholastic organizations. I was one of the first recipients of a Ladue Education Foundation grant. I hosted the only high school program on a local St. Louis television outlet, HEC Media. I have developed partnerships with our local NBC and CBS stations, and a national educational website, SchoolTube.com, and my most proud partnership have been with our major league baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. My students and I have attended Cardinals Fantasy Camps, capturing stories of Cardinals alum legends, campers, and the charity they support, Mercy Hospital and its Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Center. In addition to my classroom work, I also produce video content for the Ladue School District’s Communication Department, highlighting the excellence in education from our certified staff.
Outside of school, I’ve spoken internationally at conferences, conventions, and professional development workshops, offering educators and corporations innovative ways to leverage video and media literacy into the classroom or business. I am a dedicated Apple user and was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2011. I also became an Apple Certified Trainer in 2023. I am a published author through Apple Education, and I’ve had courses hosted by iTunes U when it was in its prime while authoring three multitouch books in the Apple Book Store. I’ve been very fortunate to be recognized in the past by other organizations as well. In addition to Apple, I was recognized as a Global Creative Educator by Adobe Education, a “Making it Happen” winner by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®), a Lead PBS Digital Innovator, and one of the first Distinguished Broadcast Advisers of the year from the National Journalism Education Association. I’ve been a keynote speaker, Spotlight Speaker, lead workshop presenter, SXSW national media literacy panelist, S’Park Scholar Media Mentor by Ithaca College, and Media Literacy Educator of the Year by the Gateway Media Literacy Partners. These honors result from the hard work and dedication our students have shown during their time in our Broadcast program. Without student passion, commitment to excellence, and a belief in themselves, none of these honors would have occurred for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Having navigated three careers by the age of 51, it has truly been a roller coaster ride. There have been highs, such as the first time I spoke on professional radio, and lows, such as getting laid off after 9/11, as well as teaching through the COVID era. Teaching has been the most rewarding career I’ve had, but my time has come to an end, as I will be retiring from the classroom at the end of the 2024 school year. Being in the classroom through COVID and now dealing with the aftereffects students exhibit, even years later, has been a tremendous challenge and burden on my well-being and one that has created burnout for many teachers across the nation. Teachers have been asked to do more every year while being treated as villains by those in society who have never been in a classroom other than when they were students. For many years, my students energized me to power through the number of requirements, bureaucracy, and safety issues students and educators face daily in school. Realizing I was not a good student as a young boy and teenager, and having had a negative high school experience, I have offered students a better experience than I had. I developed a space and culture for students to be creative, safe, and inclusive. I hope that is my legacy from being a classroom teacher. Seeing many of my former students achieve tremendous professional success has filled my heart, knowing they started in my classroom, from filmmakers to broadcast journalists to Pulitzer Prize winners to Emmy winners; our former students have made their mark in the media industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
This question was mostly answered in my earlier answer. But some quotes from former colleagues and students stand out and will forever be in my heart.
- “Don has spent countless hours teaching students and peers how to utilize multimedia effectively and appreciate media literacy simply and successfully in all grades K-12.”
- “Mr. Goble is one of those rare teachers whose passion shines through for the subject he teaches and who is committed to his students. In my experience, Mr. Goble changed my life.”
- “Mr. Goble goes beyond just teaching. He incites passion. Each year, he continues to mold and shape the curriculum to meet the interests and needs of the current students. He challenges and supports each individual to produce work with high standards of which they are proud. Mr. Goble’s students, myself included, will never be able to repay him for the opportunities he has given us, the lessons he has taught us, the life skills he helped us develop, and instilling in us the mindset to persevere for excellence.”
- “The stellar work of his (Don’s) students is of the highest caliber we’ve experienced in several years working with classrooms nationwide.”
- “Rather than keep his work a precious secret, Don is enthusiastic about sharing his ideas and experiences with others. It’s never about himself or his program, but always about improving scholastic journalism.”
- “As I reflect on the people who have influenced my education, I can’t think of anyone who did more than Don Goble in mentoring and guiding me toward an international career.”
- “Mr. Goble expects the best from every student, yet he understands that the definition of success looks different for each person. He pushes his students beyond walls and desks to make a difference in the community.”
- “Mr. Goble’s sharp eye for where my career was headed helped launch me to the best journalism school in this country. But it’s not just with me. He has mentored students in the college process and beyond for decades. Even today, I know Mr. Goble is just a phone call away. When I have big questions and decisions, I still ask him for sound advice that has yet to lead me astray.”
- As a teacher, students have always come first. It’s been their excitement, humor, passion, and self-discovery which has fueled me to get up every morning to teach the next group of students. I have learned as much from my students as I have taught them. I’ve been a counselor, amentor, a friend, and an advisor to these students as they find their way in the world. What makes them tick. What and who they care about. In my opinion, some of these quotes from former colleagues and students stand out the most and speak to what I hope my legacy will be after I am gone.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have worked with my colleague at Ladue, Marteana Davidson, for 19 years. Marteana welcomed me when I was hired at Ladue in 2005 and immediately wanted to be a partner. She quickly became my work wife, listening to my life problems, successes, and challenges as a teacher. Marteana helped me grow in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the ying to my yang, and the only way I, or my students, have achieved great success these past two decades has been through Marteana’s dedication, intelligence, and loving support for all of those she encounters. I am indebted to her for life.
I worked for Scott Weissman as an assistant baseball coach at Parkway West High School while serving as the building substitute. Scott will forever mentor me as a baseball coach, but more importantly, as a friend. Scott allowed me to spread my wings as a young coach and find my voice as my leader of athletes. Scott has remained a mentor and friend for 20 years. I learned to base my teaching philosophies, in large part, on a former college professor of mine at Bradley University, Dr. Paul Gullifor. Dr. Gullifor ran his classes with incredible intellect, humor, support, and passion. I have kept in touch over the years and credit much of my teaching style to the lessons I learned from him while at the university.
Dave Davis has been the Broadcast Journalism teacher at Hillcrest High School in Springfield, MO, for decades. Before Dave and I knew each other personally, I followed the work he and his students were producing. I wanted my program to come close to what Dave and his students produced. Dave’s broadcast kids were doing professional work in high school, and I aimed to strive for the same type of excellence. Later in our careers, Dave and I met and became distant friends. Dave’s selfless attitude to serve others still inspires me today.
My biggest cheerleader is my partner, Kelly Ross. Kelly is a middle school teacher in New Jersey who inspires students not only to learn to love math and science but character education. Kelly has supported me through some of my darkest hours in the past three years and has proven to be the love of my life. Without her daily support, whether in person or on the phone, there is no bigger cheerleader of mine than Kelly, and I’m blessed we found each other.
Last, the best “job” I’ve ever had is being a dad. I’m incredibly proud of the man my son Terry is becoming. He has a heart of gold, offers himself in service of others, is hysterically funny, and I have cherished being a dad since he was born. My son means the world to me, and that is why I have sacrificed so much over the past seventeen years to make sure his needs are met and that I’ve done all I can to develop a tremendously strong relationship with him. Terry is my pride and joy.
Pricing:
- I charge different rates for my consulting services depending on the scope and sequence of the request. From video production, social media content or training, or educational staff training, I have many offerings I would be willing to negotiate with interested individuals or school districts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dongoble.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgoble2001
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.goble.16
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dongoble
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dgoble2001
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dgoble2001
Image Credits
Headshot – Apple Distinguished Educators (No name for photographer, photos were a courtesy of the program.)
