SXU - A Family Tradition: The Goedke Family
Saint Xavier University (SXU) legacy family Linda Goedke '72, Allison Goedke '16, Bridget Goedke Karl '16, and Collette Nicolini '10 comprise an impressive group of women who draw upon the skills they gained at SXU to create, teach, and positively impact others.
Linda graduated from SXU in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in social science and a minor in education. A first-generation student, Linda's experiences at Saint Xavier inspired in her a love of learning and desire to share that with others.
After graduating, she earned a master's degree in curriculum development and instruction and a certificate in educational administration. Linda spent 34 years working in the education field as a teacher, curriculum coordinator and elementary school principal.
"The quality liberal arts education I received at SXU fostered my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential in educational administration. I could not have been more delighted when my daughters, Allison and Bridget, and my niece, Collette, chose to attend Saint Xavier," said Linda.
Linda spent her time at Saint Xavier exploring new ideas, making new friends from different backgrounds, and learning new things. She fondly remembers discovering philosophy with Dr. McGuire, understanding the theory of arithmetic with Sr. Rosalie, and exploring sociology with Dr. Petersen. She also spent Saturdays teaching dance in Sr. Dominic's Cultural Arts Program for Children.
Allison graduated from SXU in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and an endorsement in middle school mathematics. Following her mom, older sister, and several cousins, she decided to pursue education. Not only was it the "family business," but for Allison, growing up with a parent in the field gave her insight into just how important and impactful teachers are.
While at SXU, Allison was a member of the Honors Program, which provided several unique opportunities and experiences for her. She felt well-prepared for her career and appreciated hands-on learning opportunities through field work placements, observations, and experience working in different schools at different grade levels, all of which exposed her to real-life classroom experiences that shaped her teaching style and philosophy. She fondly remembers when her mom got to join her at her pinning ceremony, which was especially meaningful since they are both graduates of SXU's Education Division.
After graduating, Allison was hired as a long-term substitute kindergarten teacher at Beecher Elementary, a special opportunity for her since it was the school her mom worked at for most of her career. She moved on to teach second grade at another elementary school before securing her current position as a kindergarten teacher at Grant Park Elementary, where she has been for seven years. She also serves as a member of the leadership committee and school improvement team and is a new teacher mentor.
"Being a kindergarten teacher is a new adventure every day. Working with kids this age restores my faith in all things good and kind. My favorite thing about teaching kindergarten is the growth I get to witness. It amazes me every year," said Allison.
Allison holds a learning behavior specialist endorsement. She appreciates that the field of education is always changing, allowing her to frequently incorporate new things into her classroom.
Bridget graduated from SXU in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in communication. She pursued the major because of a passion for communicating through writing and a belief that the degree would allow her to pursue diverse career paths and serve her well in an ever-changing digital landscape.
While at SXU, Bridget was a senior editor for the Viewpoints column of The Xavierite as well as a blogger for the SXU website and a social media contributor. She believes that living on campus was one of the best decisions she could have made, as she met lifelong friends and grew into an independent adult. She is especially grateful for her mentors at SXU, including Professor Brad Mello, and she still draws upon things she learned in her classes while problem-solving for her career.
"I had excellent professors. There is so much psychology and cultural influence wrapped into the world of human communication, and my professors did an excellent job of exposing us to all of these elements," said Bridget.
After graduating, Bridget secured a job as a social media specialist at a marketing agency and continued to advance in the digital marketing field until she landed a job at her current employer, NUVEW Web Solutions. In her role as manager of digital content, she oversees both the social media and writing teams, helping them to create engaging and effective marketing content for clients. Bridget helps businesses develop their brand voice, identifying target markets and relevant keywords and then compiling information to create digital content, which she equates to solving a puzzle. Her favorite aspect is the research and strategy that goes into content creation.
Collette graduated in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in English and secondary education. She was drawn to teaching because of the profound impact the power of education has had on the trajectory of her life. She is the first in her family to graduate from college and credits the achievement to the incredible teachers she had when she was in school, whose attention and guidance fostered her love of learning for life and helped her to understand she could create her own future. As a voracious reader and fervent writer, teaching English was a natural fit for her.
Collete is grateful for her time at SXU, which prepared her well for her own classroom.
"So many of my classes at SXU were centered on questioning and discussion – major tenets of the classical model of education. The dialogue I had in my classes and the ways in which I learned how to think critically, listen, and learn from others around me helped me to understand the power and value of dialogue in the classroom. Now, I get to provide my students with those same opportunities to think deeply in a community centered on curiosity and understanding," said Collette.
Collette is especially thankful for the experiences she had with the English faculty at SXU, reminiscing about Dr. Boyer's takes on Shakespeare, learning about teaching and writing from Dr. Kolich, the mentorship of Dr. Hathcock, who led her on the journey of writing her senior thesis, and Dr. Gatti, who encouraged her on the path of mastering Italian as a second language. She credits her SXU professors for helping to shape her teaching style.
While at SXU, Collette worked in the Student Affairs office. She also served as a writing tutor in the Learning Center and conducted workshops on mastering the writing portion of the Illinois Basic Skills Test. She was a housing orientation team member and lived on campus all four years, holding many fond memories from that time.
After graduating, Collette started work as an on-call substitute teacher before taking her first full-time position as a fifth-grade teacher on the Southwest Side of Chicago. After moving to Indiana, she taught ninth-grade English for several years before she took her dream position teaching AP English to 11th graders at a classical, liberal arts high school. She is the lead teacher for the AP language curriculum and the faculty sponsor of the Young Democrats Club.
"I absolutely love working at Herron High School -- it allows me to serve a diverse student body, and it is a place that shares many of my own core values as an educator. I am empowered to teach my students how to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to engage in the pursuit of truth, beauty, goodness and excellence, every day. I get to do good work in a place where I am valued and respected as a professional educator. It does not get any better than that," said Collette.
Perhaps most special for the family is the set of SXU shared core values and Mercy mission that they continue to be inspired by and live out in their daily lives.
"All of my experiences at SXU have contributed to my successful career in education. So many of the skills needed for success are embedded in Saint Xavier's mission statement. Thinking critically, communicating effectively and serving wisely have guided my professional and personal life," said Linda.
"Saint Xavier's Mercy mission and a career in education go hand-in-hand. Loving and serving others is a part of my daily routine as a teacher. The commitment to compassionate service and lifelong learning that was instilled in me by my parents and reinforced by my education at SXU is something that I live out in my career every day. I am very proud to be a graduate of SXU and to be in the company of my mom, my cousin, and my sister, who are all strong, educated, and independent women that I greatly admire," added Allison.
"Working in service of others and for the common good are really ingrained into who I am both professionally and personally. Whether I am helping a small business promote their services or participating in a church or community event, service to others is a driving force in my life. I am very proud of my mom, my sister, my cousin and myself for all that we accomplished while at SXU and beyond. I come from a strong line of educated, successful and admirable women, and I am grateful for the role that SXU played in each of our journeys," said Bridget.
"So much of my day-to-day life as a teacher embodies the Mercy mission. The students I serve come to me from all over central Indiana, students from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and with so many different life circumstances. I get to be the one who welcomes them to a safe learning community and who creates the conditions that facilitate the best kind of learning, where each student is encouraged to think critically, question thoughtfully, and welcome curiosity as a means for deeper understanding of people and the world around us," said Collette.
Linda is now retired but looks forward to traveling and continuing to learn for life. As a lifelong learner, Allison hopes to eventually pursue a master's degree or another education endorsement, and she is also working on invigorating her Catholic faith as a young adult, looking forward to whatever vocations that may lead her to in the future. As Bridget looks to the future, she hopes to get back into writing and author a children's book. She'd also like to eventually earn a master's degree. Collette is currently working on some creative writing endeavors, including a sci-fi novel. She continues to practice Italian in the hopes of spending a summer in Calabria, and she has not ruled out attending law school.