September 24, 2024 -- Last school year, Mason Acres, a spirited student from Beatty Park Elementary, took his love for sports to the next level by joining the Special Olympics, where he shined on the basketball court and excelled in track and field events.

“It felt really good to be active and be around my friends,” Acres said. “I got to win awards too, which was really cool.”

For their Special Olympics efforts last school year, Beatty Park received the Excellence in Inclusion Award. The award celebrates schools that promote unified sports, youth leadership, and whole school engagement. 

John Esson, Special Olympics coordinator for Columbus City Schools (CCS), noted Beatty Park is the first CCS school to win the award since CCS joined the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program. The Unified Champion Schools program promotes social inclusion in schools through planned activities. 

He credited the Special Olympics program’s change from requiring students to have intellectual disabilities to allowing students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to participate. The move was part of an effort to make the Special Olympics more inclusive. 

For Beatty Park, the change meant many of the school’s students could compete. Beatty Park provides a strong behavioral and education program for students with social-emotional and behavioral health needs.

“Beatty Park has been wonderful about getting the whole school involved [in the Special Olympics],” Esson said.

And that involvement comes from the top and instilled in the staff. Principal Jessica Waddell said the school’s staff believes all children have amazing talents and abilities and the Special Olympics’ recognition was a testament to that ideal.

“Special Olympics is a dynamic organization that holds these same beliefs and together we provide our student athletes top notch opportunities to demonstrate their skills,” said Waddell.

Recently retired physical education teacher Flo Ray witnessed the students taking advantage of those opportunities first hand. Every week, for at least 45 minutes, she taught students basketball and track and field skills like patience, participation, pride, and inclusivity. 

Throughout her 25 years, she saw the school’s Special Olympics program grow. With the eligibility requirements shift in her last year, her students’ mindsets and attitudes changed and more students stepped up to participate. 

“The students realized anyone can [compete in Special Olympics],” Ray said. “Even my fourth and fifth graders who before would have been too cool to do it, stepped in and really helped the other ones.”

Ray is overjoyed about her students and the award. She said she knows the ones who participated last year feel pride and more students will want to join. Knowing all the struggles her students had been through, she said whenever her students received awards, they smiled no matter the rank or ribbon color. 

“By the end, their sportsmanship was unbelievable and the kids were great at it,” Ray said. 

Jordan Fells, Beatty Park’s new physical education teacher, will oversee the Special Olympics program this year. He is excited about tapping into the skills Special Olympics athletes develop through the program - teamwork, cooperation, and social responsibility.

“I’m excited to carry the torch in [Ray’s] honor and see the many great things we can do this year,” Fells said.

CCS congratulates Beatty Park Elementary on receiving this recognition and continuing its commitment to inclusivity.