Jason Goldberg; The Reclusive Savior of G82

By: Faizan

June 8, 2022

There Jason Goldberg was, thriving in his natural habitat. Secluded in the sanctity of his room, G82, where his students are off laughing away either playing games, or completing their end of the year project. Where’s Goldberg during this pandemonium? Listening to his music playlist, while setting up his self named Mole Bio “Beat Goldberg” Lab Practical, andof course, participating in this interview.

The shock of the pandemic hit educators and students hard. One day they were sitting in class with their friends and peers, learning as they’ve always done; the next, they’re home. They’re told not to worry, everything will go back to normal after two weeks, which turns to six, then the rest of the year; the thought of coming back at all seemed like a miracle.

Goldberg was forced to put on a strong face for his students during this time, “As a teacher I’m like alright, I’m not seeing the kids until after spring break. I’ll tell them it’s two weeks but at the earliest I’m seeing them after spring break.”

He did what he could to carry his students to the end of the year, as smoothly as possible, by being the overprepared person he is, “I’m thinking I have all my stuff I have a website that I--- are you recording?” He takes a step back and lowers his mask, “I have a website that I use Goldie’s Room, all my stuff is on there. I have everything I need. I can adapt, I can roll with it.”

And with that passion and enthusiasm, Goldberg kept a strong face and hid the reality he knew was looming. He showed me what he posted on his Instagram, which was a black and white photo of the room. “I left the room knowing yeah, this is the real person thing, this is gonna hurt. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. Will I keep my job? Are we going long term? Is it short term? As a person I was terrified.”

Goldberg persisted through that fear and carried his students through it, all the way to the novel hybrid year that presented itself as an entirely different beast. “Once they said we were going hybrid I went back over to figure out how to do a three day rotating schedule with labs to count for college.” Though the experience wasn’t easy, Goldberg didn’t want the year to go to waste, so as he struggled to keep his sanity, he made sure to do his best to prepare his students for the AP exam, which he did to his fullest extent.

Then came this past fall semester, with students returning to in-person instruction for the first time in two years. This gap of learning resulted in Goldberg needing to switch his approach while also being blunt. Goldberg said, “I got 48 AP students and twenty different modalities of how to get them to adapt; then I got a bunch of Mole kids who also haven’t been in a lab setting. I had to not coddle them, I couldn’t go about dragging my feet. But I was also lenient with work.”

Goldberg understands the amount of self worth his students inject into his class, and with that, he does what he can to ensure they’re all successful as long as they take the journey with him. Goldberg also finds a way to create a laid back, fun environment in the classroom, to contrast his blunt way of teaching. Nothing encapsulates the essence of being in Goldberg’s room better than this interaction he had with a student during our interview.

Goldberg cuts himself off with, “Why are you looking at me Tyler?”

Tyler exclaimed, “I was looking at the PCR chart!”

Goldberg retorted with, “Why are you eating in my classroom, I’m handling bacteria here today. I know it says grape, but it’s not the flavor grape, it’s the color grape is expressing.”

“That’s why I have a napkin over it. Are bacteria going to seep through the napkin?” Tyler snarked.

“You only see my eyes but hopefully you realize the intensity of my eyes every time I say that. The reason is that if you get sick it’s not your problem besides you being on the toilet all day, it’s my problem because I can’t run the class. That’s why I said it like that. Listen, go upstairs and eat, then come back down, I don’t care at all. I just don’t want you guys getting explosive diarrhea!!! Which you get by handling the bacteria. That’s an image I want to get out of my head! Okay sorry, moving on.”Goldberg said.

Goldberg’s connection to his students is special and keeps students wanting to be in class, regardless of how difficult or sometimes boring the content may seem. Coming back to in-person instruction to his classroom, made for the perfect readjustment. Goldberg works hard to ensure the best for his students so as long as they take the journey with him, he’ll guide them to success.