New adult high school adds director with local ties

A new adult high school in Columbus has named its director.

According to Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, Dana Calfee, has been named director of The Excel Center. The center is Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, which is currently enrolling students at its newest location in Columbus.

Calfee earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in general studies. She also holds a master’s degree in science education with a focus in chemistry, physical science and computer technology from Indiana University Bloomington.

Calfee began her career as a secondary science and computer science educator first at Greensburg Community Schools and then Bartholomew Consolidated Schools. She worked to secure grant funding to integrate STEM learning opportunities across the curriculum. She also was a champion of the implementation of the Universal Design for Learning.

Calfee joined the Indiana Department of Education as the STEM & computer science specialist. She developed and executed training for schools receiving funds from the STEM Program Alignment Fund.

Calfee has served as president of the Indiana Chapter of the Computer Science Teacher Association.

Goodwill operates 18 Excel Centers across its region from Clarksville to Kokomo, including locations in Shelbyville and Bloomington. The Columbus center is being located in the Roviar Building off of Jackson Street downtown but while the space is being renovated, the school is operating at 940 N. Marr Road. The program allows adults to complete their high school diploma with in-person classes.

You can get more information or enroll at excelcenter.org