“The most fulfilling part of this work is when students suddenly get it,” Dr. Caleb Goh said. “That ‘aha’ moment makes everything worth it.” This coming fall, Goh will arrive at Parker as the new Upper School drama teacher, bringing with him nearly two decades of teaching experience and a career that began on stage and screen in Singapore. “From the moment we met on Zoom, I was excited about his positive demeanor,” Theatre and Technical Manager Tom Moster said. “He understands the full scope of a student-led production and I am positive his energy will really draw students in.”
Goh’s journey in the arts began when he was 15. He saw an ad for a television audition, and hand in hand with his best friend he took a chance that would affect the rest of his life. Goh walked away with the lead role in an English-language series and “That’s how I kick-started my career,” he said. The experience launched him into the Singapore entertainment world, balancing schoolwork with acting jobs. What began as an accident soon became a calling.
He pursued the stage formally, studying drama, musical theater, and ultimately earning a Ph.D. in the field. But even as he built his resume in performance, Goh discovered another path. Graduate school required him to teach. “At first, it felt like a box to check,” he said, “but then I saw a student’s face change when something clicked. That’s when I realized: this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Even while auditioning in Los Angeles and New York for different shows, Goh found himself drawn back to the classroom. “I would often miss auditions because I was teaching and my agent told me, ‘I don’t think you want this as much as you think you do,’” Goh said. “And I reflected and realized. I loved acting, but more than that I loved teaching. That’s where I belonged.”
Before Parker, Goh taught at a school in California, where he spent six years teaching dance and theater. As a reflection of his incredible work, the school created the “Caleb Goh Dance Award” in his honor. He has since taught nearly every age group, but prefers working with high schoolers the most. “They’re old enough to think critically, but young enough to take risks,” he said.
Over his 19 years in education, Goh’s teaching philosophy has shifted. “Early in my career, I wanted students to adapt to me. Now, I adapt to them,” he said. “Some performers learn visually, others by counts or by sound cues. My role is to figure out what works for them.”
That flexibility, Choral Music Teacher Christian Jackson noted, is exactly what makes him an exciting addition. “Dr. Goh comes to Parker with a wealth of experience and knowledge,” Jackson said. “He asks excellent questions about who our students are and how they see themselves in art. I’m just happy to be along for the ride.”
“My path to Parker in all honesty started because of a coincidence” said Goh. When he first saw the job posting, he recognized the name Francis Parker but from the school in San Diego, a rival to the one he had taught at. “I was curious,” Goh said. “The more I learned, the more intrigued I became. Then in the interview, the students asked tough questions and that told me this was the right place. I want to be challenged myself just as much as I challenge students.”
While Goh is eager to direct productions, his larger goal is to build community. “I want the arts to be a place where people can simply be, in their truest form,” said Goh.
Outside the classroom, Goh has his own passions. He has completed the Chicago Marathon and plans to keep running. In addition he hopes to take advantage of Chicago’s close proximity to the slopes and ski in his free time. “Moving to Chicago is going to give me the chance to explore a city I already love,” Goh said.
Beyond the marathon courses he’s run and the stages he’s performed on, what excites Goh most now is stepping into a classroom. Teaching, he says, has always been where he feels most at home. And as he looks ahead, his focus will be centered on the students and the stories they bring to the stage. “I’m most excited to get to know them,” Goh said. “To see who they are, what they want to say, and to learn from them too.”
Jackson put it simply: “Our students are in for a treat.”
