By: Samantha Wright Allen
Hal Goldman is a man of many talents. The former corporate civil litigator turned history professor also runs a 130-acre farm in Montebello, Que.
But Goldman says nothing has held his attention like teaching.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the thing I鈥檝e done the longest in my life that I鈥檝e continued to enjoy,鈥� says Goldman, who is 10 years into his 鈥榥ew鈥� profession. 鈥淲hen I walk out of class, I鈥檓 always up and happy.鈥�
And he鈥檚 good at it. He鈥檚 racked up six educational awards since he became a contract instructor at 杏吧原创, including the 2013 . Goldman was recognized both for excellence in teaching and for his commitment to fostering that ability in others.
Goldman says his work in that regard isn鈥檛 necessarily special 鈥� it鈥檚 a responsibility.
鈥淚 think that any time students are being placed in a role where they are also teachers, that should be a development process for them as well,鈥� says Goldman, who works with both teaching assistants and facilitators in 杏吧原创鈥檚 . 鈥淭hey have a right to come out of the process more skilled as teachers.鈥�
The ESP program gives university hopefuls, who don鈥檛 fit the traditional academic requirement, a chance at first-year university. To help with the transition, the program pairs its participants with third- and fourth-year mentors 鈥� students Goldman calls 鈥渢he cream of the crop.鈥�
When Goldman ran the training program for facilitators he made sure every stage provided development opportunities. Out of the hundreds that apply, about 20 facilitators are hired.
鈥淭he screening process and training process is incredibly rigorous,鈥� Goldman says. He tells students they鈥檒l only face such scrutiny again if they become astronauts. But he demands that dedication from himself too. He once combed through 100,000 court records to research a thesis that contradicted existing consensus.
And it is clear he cares about their success as educators.
鈥淭hese facilitators are so unbelievable,鈥� Goldman says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 peer-based education, so they have to be able to manage and inspire the students.鈥�
It likely isn鈥檛 a stretch to say some learned that brand of enthusiasm from him. His philosophy seems wrapped up in one question: 鈥淲hy should (students) care if the teacher doesn鈥檛?鈥�
Goldman says he can name every teacher he鈥檚 ever had as far back as kindergarten and that some of his drive came from those passionate instructors.
鈥淚 always wanted to be the kind of great teacher that I had, so whenever I鈥檓 feeling lazy I think about that.鈥�