The Heart of Center Award recognizes a staff member who goes above and beyond to make a positive difference for students, colleagues, families, and the community. The April 2026 Heart of Center recipients are Ms. Angela Castro, Principal Secretary at Yellowjacket Early Learning Center, and Ms. Dani Banion, Science and Culinary Teacher, Center Academy of Success.
Angela Castro is known throughout the Yellowjacket Early Learning Center for the warmth, kindness, and positivity she brings to every interaction. As the first person many families, students, and guests encounter, she helps create a welcoming environment where everyone feels seen, supported, and cared for. Families and colleagues describe her as the heart of YELC, someone who builds meaningful relationships, supports students through difficult moments with patience and care, and consistently goes above and beyond for others. Her creativity and attention to detail shine through in the front office, where students look forward to fun traditions and activities that make school feel special and inviting.
Ms. Castro has been part of the Center family for nearly 20 years and is also the proud parent of three Center graduates. She shared that she has always viewed her role as an opportunity to make the world a better place, believing even the smallest gestures can have a lasting impact. Colleagues praise her organization, flexibility, and ability to support parents, teachers, and students with efficiency and compassion. Angela says the friendships and connections she has built at Center bring joy to her life and motivate her to continue learning, growing, and giving her best every day.
Dani Banion is known throughout Center Academy for Success for her passion, creativity, and deep commitment to students. Colleagues describe her as the kind of educator who goes above and beyond every day, often arriving first in the morning and staying late into the evening to support students and staff. She brings joy, rigor, and personalized learning into her classroom while building meaningful relationships with all students, including those who may be harder to reach. Her calm and caring demeanor helps students feel supported and valued, and her dedication extends far beyond the classroom through athletics, school events, and extracurricular activities. Staff members describe her as “the glue” of CAS, someone who makes the school stronger simply by being part of it.
Ms. Banion teaches cooking and science at CAS and is passionate about helping students build compassion, empathy, inclusion, and life skills through cooking and sustainability. She shared that some of her favorite memories at Center include reading with elementary students at Red Bridge, helping with the CMS production of Moana, and watching her CAS students light up with pride during their “Chopped Finals.” She is married to Jesse Banion, a seventh-grade science teacher at CMS, and they have a son, Auggie, who is a student-athlete at CHS. Ms. Banion’s heart, creativity, and unwavering support for students leave a lasting impact across the district.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Castro and Ms. Banion, our April Heart of Center Award recipients!