Unifying students

PERKINS TWP. — For the first time, Perkins High School earned the Nation Banner Unified Champion School title, an honor presented by the Special Olympics. The National Unified Banner School award goes to schools committed to inclusion, according to Shana DeRose-Smith, a teacher at Perkins High School. It means the school is among the best in the Unified Champion Schools program. Schools in the Special Olympics Unified Champion School program have an inclusive school climate and a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all students and staff. DeRose-Smith said Lindsay Bookshar, an intervention specialist at the high school, worked hard to get this title during the 2023-24 school year. She said Bookshar has been involved with the Special Olympics since she started her career in Elyria in 2015. When she came to the district last year, Bookshar focused on organizing a county-wide Special Olympics track and field event. The same year, Perkins Schools gained a Special Olympics youth ambassador, Kali Ohlemacher, who brought prior experience with Unified Sports from her previous school. "Inspired by this, Lindsay explored Unified Sports programming and recognized the benefits it could offer all her students, as sports often serve as a universal language," DeRose-Smith said. In fall 2023, Ohlemacher traveled to Capitol Hill to speak about the program and her goal of making her school a National Banner School. "Understanding the importance of helping students achieve their aspirations, Lindsay took the initiative to create a fully inclusive environment at Perkins," DeRose-Smith said. Bookshar applied for the award in May and was notified of the honor in September. Perkins High School represents one of the five schools in Ohio to earn this prestigious distinction in the 2023-24 school year. At Perkins High School, Bookshar created Unified teams for students with and without disabilities to play sports for the Unified Sports category. Her students play basketball, track and field, cornhole and football. On Friday, Perkins Schools will host a Unified Football tournament with other National Champion Schools at Firelands Health Stadium. The game starts at 10 a.m. with festivities starting at 9:45 a.m. and is open to the public. Bookshar also created The Pirates United Club for students with and without disabilities. The students work toward leading advocacy, awareness, inclusion and other activities throughout the year. To meet the Whole School Engagement Component, she hosted awareness and education activities for the building and community. To meet the sustainability category, Bookshar plans to ensure the Unified Champion School components continue and become part of the school's culture. Her long-term plan is to include other buildings within the district. Meeting the qualifications To win the award, a school has to demonstrate that it met 10 standards set by a national panel from Special Olympics and the education community. Here is a list of the standards, according to a Special Olympics Unified Champion School information page. • Unified Sports is offered in at least two seasons throughout the school year. • Unified Sports participation occurs regularly over the course of each sports season or school term and includes competition. • An adult coach for each sport who has received training on Special Olympics Unified Sports. • Unified Sports is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other athletics/activities. • A Unified Club or student group offers leadership opportunities/training for students with and without intellectual disabilities. • The inclusive club/group meets at least once per month throughout the school year. • The inclusive club/group has an adult liaison and is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other clubs/activities. • At least two whole-school engagement activities are implemented per school year. • Students with and without disabilities are involved with planning and leading the awareness activities. • The school is currently self-sustainable or has a plan in place to sustain the three components into the future. Editor's note: This story has been updated.