Teacher of the Year

Our Teacher of the Year for 2020 is Ms. Yolanda Goggins. Ms. Goggins began her professional career as a math tutor for Columbus State University. Given her talents, she progressed to head tutor, ultimately landing a full-time job at the institution. After one year, she transitioned to Banneker High School in 1994, marking 2020 as her 26th year working for the school. With 27 total teaching years under her belt, Ms. Goggins has learned patience and the importance of innovation. Instilling creativity into each of her lessons is pertinent, crafting individual experiences for every student. “Students do not all learn the same,” says Ms. Goggins, taking pride in her ability to teach effectively no matter the student’s learning level. Inspired by teachers that came before her, she revels in their work, striving to achieve similar accomplishments. She is often celebrated for her student growth percentile rates and praised for her Saturday School initiative: Freshman Academy. She loves the students at Banneker and wants the world to know how committed the students are. “Despite their circumstances, Banneker High School scholars are devoted to excellence.” Serving as the Algebra 1 instructor, Ms. Goggins hopes to pour 30 years into Banneker High School, leaving the legacy of a teacher who truly gave her all. 

Professional of the Year

Keith Sims has dedicated 24 years to empowering youth through education. His devotion to academic excellence serves as on-going inspiration to both colleagues and students. Benjamin Banneker High School takes great pride in awarding Mr. Sims with the 2020 Professional of the Year Award. Within Banneker’s unique learning space, he has both gained and shared insurmountable knowledge. Mr. Sims works directly with teachers as a Math Instructional Coach and he also coordinates Banneker's Extended Day/Night School program, while additionally serving as a Senior Success Manager. As an instructional coach, he has extensive content knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for the supporting teachers within his department as well as others.  As the Extended Day/Night School Coordinator, Mr. Sims leads a team that provides opportunity for credit recovery, ultimately increasing graduation rates and decreasing student retention and dropout rates.  As a Senior Success Manager, he’s maintained a 100% success rate, motivating many students to go off into the world and spark positive global change. Mr. Sims takes pride in Banneker High School, pouring into the school for nearly a decade. His eight years of leadership has allowed him to experience an atmosphere of determination and resilience that he has never experienced at any other institution. Mr. Sims enforces a sense of structure and accountability while emphasizing the notion that anything is possible. His time at Banneker has been an “enlightening experience (he) will cherish forever.”