About Randy

  • I am born and raised in the great state of West Virginia and continue to reside there today near the town of Milton.
  • I am a fraternal twin with a brother named Rick.
  • I was knighted in 1995 as a winner of the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe.
  • I am an educator, educational technology specialist, and podcaster with a goal to help students, teachers, and administrators to improve for success in, and out, of the classroom through the continuous improvement of my skills as an educator and my knowledge base as a technology specialist.
  • I have presented at various conferences and events and provided training to teachers and students in both small- and large-scale settings.
  • I am currently working with Putnam County Schools as a Technology Systems Specialist. I have also served in various instructional and support capacities with Wayne and Cabell County Schools and as a consultant with the West Virginia Department of Education on Minecraft classroom usage and deployment and Common Sense Media as a mentor for their (now defunct) Graphite branded site for educators.
  • I am a 2004 graduate of Marshall University with a B.A. in Secondary Education (Social Studies) and History.
  • I am a 2012 graduate of Ashford University with a M.A. in Teaching and Learning with Technology.
  • I hold WV educator certifications in Social Studies (5-Adult) and Library Media Specialist (PK-Adult). I also hold an Advanced Credential as a Technology Systems Specialist and a Permanent Authorization as a Technology Systems Specialist.
  • I was involved in the organization and execution of the bi-monthly #WVEdChat. This bi-monthly chat among educators from West Virginia, and beyond, hoped to continue helping all participants to personalize their professional development and continue their growth.
  • I have produced a number of podcasts.
    • The Randall Black Show featured guests from my PLN (Professional Learning Network) as well as news, stories, and more related to my work in education.
    • EdTech Shorts shares quick and simple educational technology tips for educators with the goal of helping them to work smarter, not harder.
    • Work from the Weight is a personal weight loss journey podcast. It is the premier place to share the ups and down, the experiences, and the science of weight loss. Join host Randy Black on his own journey to work from the weight!
    • Bible Bytes is your virtual Sunday School, inspiring faith one byte at a time. Each episode breaks down the timeless wisdom of the Bible into digestible insights, perfect for those unable to attend services in person.
    • M2H2 (Mountain Music Half Hour) is a V4V Music podcast coming from the Mountain State and recorded at Johns Creek Studios in Milton, WV with host Randy Black. M2H2 features artists sharing their music under the Value 4 Value model in a tightly organized half-hour of non-stop music.