ALBANY, NY – Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman recently announced that 13 New York schools have been named new National Banner Unified Champion Schools, along with nine more, including Newark High School, renewing their status for another four-year term.
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This distinction marks the highest level of achievement for Unified Champion Schools in the nation, recognizing their leadership in creating inclusive school communities where all students are accepted and celebrated.
In Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, students with and without disabilities play on the same sports teams and take physical education courses together. Students learn inclusive leadership skills and lead campaigns and activities that engage the entire school community to encourage and promote inclusion among their peers. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated the highest commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence. The standards were developed by a panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community nationally. The primary activities within these standards include Special Olympics Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement. To achieve banner status, Unified Champion Schools must also demonstrate that they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to continue these activities in the future.
The 13 new Unified Champion Schools earning this prestigious honor are the following: New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Sayville High School, Amherst Central High School, Niagara Wheatfield High School, Pioneer Central, Canandaigua Academy, Manhattan Occupational Training Center, Canandaigua Middle School, Chittenango High School, Fredonia High School, Newburgh Free Academy, Glens Falls High School, and Hoosick Falls High School. The nine renewing Unified Champion Schools including Newark High School which earned the distinction in 2020 are: Southampton High School, Starpoint High School, Churchville-Chili High School, Irondequoit High School, Horseheads High School, Saratoga Springs High School, Ithaca High School and Victor Senior High School.
"The recognition of Newark High School as a National Banner Unified Champion School is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every student is valued and celebrated,” said Jonathan Mastin, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics for the Newark Central School District.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and leadership of our former Newark High School special education teacher and Unified Bowling coach Matt Groot, who was instrumental in guiding us through this process. His efforts ensured that Newark High School not only meets the standards of excellence but also sets a benchmark for others to follow. Thanks to his leadership, our school community is more united and inclusive, providing opportunities for all students to thrive together."
Groot, who now works as a special education teacher in the Canandaigua City School District and is the Unified Sports Coordinator for Section V, applied for the renewal of the National Banner Unified Champion Schools status while he was still at NHS during the 2023-24 school year.
“In applying for renewal of our status we had to demonstrate growth,” Groot said. “We did, including the establishment of a Unified Booster Club, the addition of a Bocce
team, the only one in Section V, and we started an annual Alumni Basketball game during which NHS alumni came back and played with our current Unified players and then watched their actual game afterward.
“Getting this renewal is an amazing accomplishment and this distinction can be viewed like winning sectionals in other sports,’’ Groot said.
“Our Special Olympics Unified Champion Banner Schools are some of the best and brightest havens for inclusion not just in our state, but throughout our country,” said Hengsterman. “It’s our honor to recognize them for all they’ve done, and all they’ll continue to do.”
Special Olympics NY Unified Champion Schools are off to a vibrant start to the school year. Due to increased popularity among students, many schools are adding fall Unified Sports including bocce, soccer, and flag football. Statewide, 340 schools and nearly 5,000 Unified Athletes and nearly 5,000 Unified Partners play Unified. A long-term partnership with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has led to additional rapid Unified growth in recent years.
At NHS, Unified Bowling is coached by Mark Eakins, Unified Bocce coached by Justin Fladd, Unified Basketball is coached by Fladd and Justin Reho and Unified Modified Basketball for 7th and 8th graders is coached by Amanda Hutteman.
“It’s an absolute honor to teach and coach in a district that continues to be at the forefront of the inclusion revolution. The opportunities afforded to our student athletes under the Unified sports initiatives give those involved a sense of pride and accomplishment. My hope is that other Finger Lakes schools take up the calling and the number of schools involved continue to increase. Being named a National Banner School is the cherry on top,” said Fladd, who teaches Global Studies10 at NHS.
“NYSPHSAA’s partnership with Special Olympics NY has been an unparalleled achievement for hundreds of high school communities,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “We are proud of all these Banner Schools for showing the best of what New York high school sports have to offer.”
These 13 new Banner Schools bring New York’s statewide total to 36. Canandaigua Middle has become the state’s first middle school to earn this honor, while Chittenango and 721M have become the first Banner schools in Special Olympics NY’s Central and New York City regions, respectively.
To get involved in Unified Sports with Special Olympics New York, visit specialolympics-ny.org/unified or send an email to unified@nyso.org.