HOCKESSIN — William F. Cooke Jr. Elementary School has been named a Special Olympics Unified Champion national banner school.

This award is presented to a Special Olympics Unified Champion School that has an inclusive climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A school receiving such recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed and then reviewed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.

“It’s an honor to be named a national Special Olympics Unified School,” said Heather Kennedy, who directs the program at Cooke Elementary. “At Cooke, we take pride in fostering awareness and participating in schoolwide activities that promote an inclusive community. One of Cooke’s core values is creating a community of learners who will make a difference. Our students are young and impressionable, and that is a driving force behind our dedication to making a difference today, tomorrow and in the future.”

Cooke was one of just 122 schools around the country to receive the honor in the 2021-22 year. It completed an intense application process outlining its inclusive programming offered for all grade levels.

“The undertaking of directing a school’s involvement in this program is done completely on a volunteer basis by a school’s staff,” said Jon Buzby, senior director of Unified Champion Schools for Special Olympics Delaware. “What Heather Kennedy and the staff at the school have done to put together such an impressive portfolio of inclusive activities at Cooke is very impressive. I am so happy that the school was selected for this well-deserved honor by a committee of people who were overly impressed by what they do.”

Cooke Elementary becomes the ninth school in Delaware to receive the honor. Staff and students from Cooke were recognized at the monthly Red Clay Consolidated School District board of education meeting Sept. 21.