Brent Goldman, Ed.D., grew up hearing stories about NSU around the dinner table. His father served as the dean of education at the university for 20 years and shared his experiences in developing distance- and Internet-based learning with his family. When Goldman wanted to pursue his master’s and doctorate degrees, those memories helped him make a decision about where to further his education.
“Obviously, I was very much aware of the program,” Goldman said. “I was living and working in Fort Lauderdale. My first job was at the Broward County School Board, and there were just so many teachers in my school who were working on their master’s or doctorate at NSU at the time. Those were all reasons for choosing NSU—family, proximity, and listening to colleagues’ experiences and what they got from NSU in comparison to other schools.”
When he enrolled in the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, Goldman wanted to become an assistant principal or principal. His instructors at NSU were serving in similar positions and shared war stories from their careers. Goldman appreciated the blend of leadership theory and practical experience, and that combination helped frame his own approach to education.
Shortly before completing his doctorate in 1997, Goldman and his partners opened the Sagemont School—a private pre-K to 12th grade college preparatory school. Sagemont had athletics, fine arts, and other traditional elements, as well as some unique features. It was one of the first private schools to have a one-to-one student to laptop program. After 21 years at the helm, Goldman sold the school and began exploring more innovative education opportunities.
He partnered with the University of Miami to start a private online high school—the first private virtual school accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). He also helped launch the Smart Horizons Career Online Education—an online high school geared toward adult high school dropouts. That effort was started in 2009 and just graduated its 14,000th student.
His latest venture, Xceed Preparatory Academy, began in 2016. This network of private schools now includes five brick-and-mortar institutions and one virtual school. The model is designed to create a safe and supportive learning environment for students with blended learning and flexible scheduling.
“NSU had a big role in all of it,” he said. “When I did my master’s in the early 1990s, and my doctorate in the mid-1990s, it wasn’t just theory based. It was very practical, with a lot of online and distance learning. NSU taught me to think outside the box.”
His connection to NSU deepened when his son started high school at NSU University School. Goldman made a donation to USchool and then created an endowed scholarship fund for future teachers at the Fischler College of Education. In addition, Xceed Preparatory Academy established a relationship with the university, creating a pipeline of student and substitute teachers who are trained for full-time positions upon graduation.
“The Xceed-NSU partnership has been a win-win for both parties,” Goldman said. “Especially in an age where there’s a shortage of teachers. If we can leverage getting highly trained potential teachers, we love that.”
He’s also happy to give back to the school that helped shape his career, especially at a time when the teaching profession is facing obstacles that include inequitable pay, unfriendly work conditions, unappreciation, and even culture wars. Goldman hopes to inspire others to contribute to the Fischler College of Education as a member of the Fellows Society and the leadership cabinet for The Campaign for Preeminence—Making Yours a Healthier World.
“NSU has as an opportunity to be a leader in teacher, education, and educational leadership around the country,” he said. “I passionately believe that teachers are an extremely important part of our society, and I think we need to do more.”
For more information on how to support the NSU Campaign to Preeminence, please contact Lorraine Shim, director of development, at (954) 262-2007 or email at lorra@nova.edu.