Mr. Levi Goins was named Mount Airy City Schools 2022-2023 Principal of the Year on Wednesday, March 22. Much to his surprise, district administrators along with members of his family were waiting for him in the school’s cafeteria during lunch. Superintendent Kim Morrison announced Goins’ recognition to the crowded cafeteria and students went wild with excitement.
Goins’ first year as principal was the 2020-2021 school year when school leaders across the nation were battling the impacts of a pandemic on teaching and learning. That year, Goins displayed remarkable leadership and innovation as he brought nearly all of his middle schoolers back to campus five days a week. He edited schedules and created classrooms in every space in his school to accommodate the needs of the time.
Thanks to the hard work of his students and staff, his school’s culture, and his ability to innovate, Mount Airy Middle School (MAMS) performed exceptionally well in his first year as principal. Some highlights were:
- MAMS won the NCASA Challenge Cup
- MAMS 6th grade mathematics was 4 (percentage points) above the state proficiency rate
- MAMS 7th grade mathematics was 10 (percentage points) above the state proficiency rate
- MAMS 8th grade mathematics was 17 (percentage points) above the state proficiency rate
- MAMS 8th grade science was 13 (percentage points) above the state proficiency rate
Goins has facilitated professional learning communities in his school since he became assistant principal in 2017, which has helped build a strong culture and academic foundation through grade levels and departments. 90% of staff at MAMS have met or exceeded growth in the past two years which showcases their hard work and the school’s leadership. He is often found visiting classrooms, talking with students, and even teaching a class. While principal is his title, Goins is passionate and dedicated to the craft of teaching.
As districts and schools across the country continue to work to close gaps created by COVID, Goins has seen tremendous growth and success in just that. Recent highlights include:
- MAMS won the NCASA Challenge Cup for the second year in a row with 240 points, ranking them 40 points ahead of the second-place position. The school participated in 10 out of the 17 competitions available to students. These competitions included: Twelve, Show Choir, Art Showcase, The Quill, MATHCOUNTS, Envirothon, National History Day, Lego League, Science Olympiad, and HOSA.
- MAMS 8th grade mathematics scored 15 percentage points above the state proficiency rate
- MAMS 8th grade ELA scored 5 percentage points above the state proficiency rate
- MAMS 7th grade mathematics scored 6 percentage points above the state proficiency rate
Goins notes, “It’s truly an honor to be named Principal of the Year for the Mount Airy City Schools district. I am blessed to serve the students and families of our community and consider it a privilege to come to work every day. I am surrounded by teachers and a staff who are passionate about education and together we have created a place where students feel welcome and want to learn.”
Goins is a 2006 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a B.S. in Biology and minor in Chemistry. He earned his teaching certificate in 2009 through the UNC Educational Licensure Program after working as a research lab technician at the UNC Neuroscience Center. He earned his M. Ed in Educational Leadership from High Point University in 2018. He is married to Emily and they have two children, Maizey and Junah.
Morrison states, “We are proud of Mr. Levi Goins for being named MACS Principal of the Year. His first year was in the middle of COVID and he led Mount Airy Middle School through a challenging time and came out on top. We appreciate his hard work and ability to inspire his students and staff to excellence. We know he will represent us well at the regional and state levels.”