JAMES WOOD

Staff Writer

As part of the push from Bedford County Schools to provide more Career and Technical Education (CTE) class offerings, Neal Gordon oversees the audio/video program at Shelbyville Central High School (SCHS).

Originally starting as a biology and chemistry teacher in 1988, Gordon teaches the Media Arts class at SCHS.

His class includes three wings, with radio, video and sports production programs.

Gordon retired from his job teaching biology and chemistry in 2022, leaving to work in radio broadcasting until his return to teaching the following year.

“I knew by Christmas that I was going to come back to teaching,” Gordon said. “I had been working in radio for 14 years at that point and I wanted to do a class on broadcasting.”

After some help and cooperation from Principle Charlie Pope and CTE Director Lori Sexton along with equipment donations from Cooper Steel, Gordon was able to officially begin teaching in his class.

“A lot of people came out of the woodwork to help start this,” Gordon said.

Gordon stated that his focus is to expose students to possible careers and interests that they haven’t developed and to prepare them for future engagement in the industry.

By teaching students how to use photo, audio and video editing software, many have been able to develop skills that have propelled them into receiving scholarships for college or jobs in the workforce directly out of high school.

As part of the sports wing of the program, students who have an aptitude for sports have a chance to cover school sports activity through videos and more.

The class also hosts Golden Eagle Radio, a student-run internet radio station hosted on Live365, playing music and covering sports each day of the week to offer students real live experience in broadcasting.

“I think we will continue to see the program grow even after I’m long since gone,” Gordon said. “I believe that it’s constantly evolving to meet new needs.”

Gordon also expressed his excitement about the success stories from his students, including those that have gone straight into the industry through local business connections or gained scholarships for college.

“In my first year of teaching media, we had three kids working on scholarships,” Gordon said.

By giving an outlet for students to refine their skills in a formal setting, the class has been able to have hands-on experience in learning about media production.

His emphasis on the connection shared between him and his students was above all else, however.

“I believe that the human connection part of it is the thing I take the most pride in,” Gordon said.