The president of Columbia’s largest bank is praising Goodwill’s Excel Center high school in Columbia, which is a free adult high school.
The Excel Center offers free adult education to those 21 and older, along with day and evening classes and free childcare for students. Central Bank of Boone County president Ed Scavone, one of Columbia’s top business leaders, recently toured the facility with a 939 the Eagle reporter. Mr. Scavone describes it as a highly-advanced organization.
“You walk in and they’re taking a group of individuals who need help up. And as an employer, we’re looking to help them in their next step. And so we’re looking for talent that we can move into our organization,” Scavone says.
Mr. Scavone notes many residents don’t realize the facility is there. It’s on North fourth street in downtown Columbia, in the former “Tribune” building. Students also receive a dedicated life coach, academic planning and one-on-one tutoring.
A math teacher at the Goodwill Excel Center high school says mathematics is the one class students are most apprehensive about. Brian Brennaman loves teaching and working at the Excel Center, which offers one-on-one tutoring.
“I think I have a very easy-going personality. It’s not that I’m constantly joking but I think I set their mind at ease, I think I can help them relax. I love math and I think that enthusiasm comes out,” says Brennaman.
Thousands of students drop out of high school annually, impacting their career potential. Optimism, encouragement and patience are all key components of the school. Sheila Ferguson has been a life coach at Columbia’s Goodwill Excel Center high school for four years. She’s a retired educator in special education.
“I kind of tell the students I’m their personal cheerleader. You know we bring them in, we help them get schedules, find their transcripts from where they went to high school. And kind of take them under our wing per say and help them in their journey here at the Excel Center,” says Ferguson.
The facility has state-of-the-art equipment. It also offers career exploration and financial literacy. The school tells 939 the Eagle that 75 percent of their students are females and that the oldest current student is 79.
State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) led the bipartisan effort in Jefferson City several years ago to bring the free adult high school to Columbia and several other communities.
