Below is an interactive timeline to help you understand the institutional failure which allowed Bob Goodlin to thrive.
Goodlin Hired As Teacher and Coach
At 36 years old, Bob Goodlin begins his teaching career at Secaucus High School. His classes include auto shop, woodshop, and employment orientation. He also was an assistant track and field coach.
1979
Teacher Observation Report of Goodlin
"Tends to be too open with students."
November 1981Professional Improvement Plan
Goodlin is specifically advised that it is not appropriate for the students to refer to him as “Bob” and that Goodlin must insist that the students refer to him as “Mr. Goodlin.”
January 1982Goodlin Forms the Anglers Club
Goodlin was the sole advisor to the Anglers Club - a club geared towards fishing, camping and outdoor adventure for students in 7th through 12th grades. Students who were members of the club went on overnight and weekend trips to the Ramapo Reservation, where Goodlin provided kids with alcohol and marijuana.
1982
Anglers Club 1983
Anglers Club, 1983 Yearbook Photo
1983
Professional Improvement Plan
“Don’t let one bad situation keep you from taking future classes on these much-needed learning experiences. Students at times can try to be very personal with a teacher they admire. Try not to let certain situations get to a point where it might jeopardize the gap between student and teacher.”
June 1984Goodlin Purchases a Lake House
The lake house was located in Hewitt, NJ, bordered by Greenwood Lake, where he took kids fishing and hunting. Alcohol and marijuana were routinely provided by Goodlin on these weekend trips. (Goodlin has since sold the property)
1984
Anglers Club 1984
Anglers Club, 1984 Yearbook Photo
1984
Goodlin is Fired from Secaucus High School
May 1988Goodlin Teaches Industrial Arts at Montville High School
Goodlin was praised by Montville for his caring attitude towards his students and volunteering his time to chaperone extra-curricular activities.
1988-1989Goodlin Returns to Secaucus High School.
September 1989Goodlin Gun Incident
The Principal of Secaucus High School writes to Goodlin about “…a most serious matter” involving Goodlin’s involvement with a student who brought an air gun to school. Goodlin bought CO2 catridges for the student, and invited him and his friends to Goodlin's lake house for "target practice." The letter asks Goodlin to “consider fully the consequences of your actions.”
December 1989
A student’s mother makes a complaint about Goodlin to a Secaucus High School Vice Principal.
1990Goodlin is Fired from Secaucus High School.
June 1992
Goodlin Teaches at Cresskill High School
Despite being fired only months earlier, Goodlin is hired at another school.
1992-1993
Goodlin is Hired as an Industrial Arts Teacher for Battin Middle School in Elizabeth.
Spring 1993
Teacher Reports Seeing a Student In Goodlin’s Car After School.
No action is apparently taken.
Fall 1993Battin Middle School Student Describes the Atmosphere in Goodlin’s Classroom
Hardly any teaching took place in Goodlin's classroom. Instead, it was a place for students to hang out and goof around. Goodlin wrote boys passes to miss their classes so they could hang out in Goodlin's classroom. He had videogames in his class. He regularly spoke about masturbation and inappropriately touched the students.
1994-1995Anonymous Tip Launches Elizabeth Police Department Investigation
After an anonymous complaint is made related to Goodlin being a potential pedophile who was seen driving with students in his car after school, the Elizabeth Police Department launches an investigation into Goodlin. Surveillance on Goodlin spans over two school years. Detectives observe students in Goodlin’s car and driving around in the North End of Elizabeth. In regard to what he witnessed during the surveillance, the lead detective has stated, “It made the hair on my back of my neck stand up.”
1996The Investigation into Goodlin is closed by the Elizabeth Police Department.
After two school years of surveillance, where detectives observed multiple middle school boys enter Goodlin's car after school, as well as Goodlin frequenting the North End of Elizabeth, the Elizabeth Police Department closes their investigation - without notifying the school adminstration, parents, the prosecutor's office, or New Jersey Division of Child Protection.
1997Battin Middle School Soccer Team
1997
Police Catch Goodlin With a Young Boy In His Car in a Secluded Area of Weequahic Park.
Police remove the child from Goodlin’s vehicle and drive the child home to his parents. However, no notifications are made to the school, DYFS, or the prosecutor’s office.
March 30, 2000Battin Middle School Student Describes the Atmosphere in Goodlin’s Classroom.
Almost seven years later, the atmosphere in Goodlin's classroom remains the same: Goodlin wrote passes for boys to miss other classes and hang out in his classroom; he regularly spoke to the boys about masturbation; he made sexual gestures with his hands; and he spoke about group masturbation experiences at his lake house.
2001-2002Goodlin States He Has the Propensity and Desire To Have Sex With Boys
A student’s mother reported Goodlin’s contact and behavior with her son, where Goodlin expressed, “both an interest and propensity to engage in sexual activity with adolescent boys.”
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Goodlin Reports to the Rubber Room
September 3, 2003Goodlin Is Cleared To Return To The Classroom; The Board of Education does not notify the Police about the 8/25/03 Complaint by a Student's Mother
Aaron Goldblatt states Goodlin is ‘very fortunate’ no investigation occurs and reminds him to be ‘very careful with the way he interacts with students.’
September 4, 2003
Elizabeth Board of Education Accepts Goodlin’s Resignation, Effective July 1, 2004
November 20, 2003
Teacher Reports To Principal That She Observed Students in Goodlin’s Car After School in St. Vladimir’s Parking Lot
February 18, 2004
Goodlin Admits To “Running Into” Students In Elizabeth After School
Principal reminds Goodlin “in the strongest of terms, to have no contact with former or present students” and of “his intention to retire at the end of the school year” and “to simply drive home after school.”
February 23, 2004
1st Lawsuit Is Filed Against The Elizabeth Board of Education
June 3, 2014Goodlin Asserts The 5th Amendment More Than 100 Times
November 23, 2015
Elizabeth Board of Education Settles With First Victim For $600,000
May 2017Goodlin is Finally Arrested
September 26, 20173rd Victim Files Lawsuit Against Elizabeth Board of Education
January 8, 2018Jury Verdict Against Goodlin For $1,150,000
September 18, 2018
Goodlin Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Former Students
February 27, 2019