In October, Homewood-Flossmoor High School will be represented at the Special Olympics North America Unified Champions Schools meeting in Washington, D.C., by H-F junior Donzell Marshall and Maggie McNellis, a 2019 graduate now attending Eastern Illinois University.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School will be represented at the Special Olympics North America Unified Champions Schools meeting in Washington, D.C., Oct. 19 through 24.
Homewood-Flossmoor High
School, gives a hug to Maggie
McNellis, a freshman at Eastern
Illinois University and his Special
Olympics ambassador partner.
(Provided photo)
Donzell Marshall, a junior at H-F, and Maggie McNellis, a 2019 graduate now attending Eastern Illinois University, will represent H-F at the meeting as Special Olympics ambassadors, with H-F special education teacher David Dore.
“Through this role they have attended trainings and conferences around the country promoting the unified schools movement,” Dore explained. “They share their experiences and expertise with schools and teams that are trying to promote greater inclusion in their schools and communities.”
Marshall and McNellis are completing a two-year term as ambassador. They attended their first meeting in 2018. Dore said, “the goal of this trip is to train the next class of ambassadors from around the country.”
In fall 2018, H-F was recognized as one of only two high schools in Illinois to receive the National Banner Unified Champion School honor by Special Olympics. H-F was selected after meeting a 10-point standard of excellence developed by educators and representatives of Special Olympics. The school works toward equity, giving each student the same advantages.
Dore is a Special Olympics coach and has promoted Special Olympics at H-F for the past 13 years.
H-F unified basketball team, with players from the general student population paired with special needs students, has twice won the Illinois state championship title. H-F also has unified teams in soccer and track.
Dore also has established a special education peer leadership class for those interested in working with and considering a career as special education teachers. H-F uses peer leaders in sports and to work with students in English, math, science and social science classes.