What began with a single Unified Basketball team in 2014 has grown into a districtwide culture of inclusion, connection and opportunity
Guilderland Central School District has worked to create pathways that bring students together, cultivate meaningful shared experiences, and extend a sense of belonging to every student.
Today, Guilderland is one of only two districts in New York State to have an elementary school, middle school and high school recognized as Unified Champion Schools through Special Olympics New York. The achievement includes recognitions earned by Westmere Elementary School, Farnsworth Middle School and Guilderland High School.
“When a district commits to inclusion being a key value in how they operate, it shows in the climate and culture,” said Nathan Johnson, executive director of Unified Sports for Special Olympics New York. “Having familiar opportunities, like Unified Sports, Unified Physical Education or inclusive clubs, creates consistency and continuity” as students transition from elementary to middle and middle to high school.
“What makes this recognition especially powerful is that it reflects a shared commitment across the entire district,” said Superintendent Daniel Mayberry. “It’s a testament to the work of our students, staff and families and to the belief that inclusion should be part of every school experience.”
Building a culture of inclusion
From peer partnerships to student-led clubs, Guilderland students are helping create school communities where everyone feels welcomed, valued and included.
At Farnsworth Middle School, members of the Student Voices Club identify ways to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the school community. Last year, students surveyed their peers about holidays celebrated by their families, researched the traditions represented in the responses and developed presentations that were shared with both students and staff.
“Students expressed feeling like they learned about other cultures and didn’t realize how many holidays are meaningful to our families and communities,” said school counselor and Student Voices Club adviser Chris Jager. “The students who developed and facilitated the presentations also noted that it felt empowering to educate their teachers and peers about our diverse community.”
Inclusion can be seen throughout GCSD’s classrooms, extracurricular programs and school facilities. Across all grade levels, students have opportunities to learn, participate and build relationships in inclusive environments. At the elementary level, ADA-accessible playgrounds provide safe, engaging spaces designed for all students.
A Unified journey
The recognition did not happen overnight. It reflects more than a decade of growth, innovation and student involvement in Unified programs across the district.
- 2014: Guilderland High School launches Unified Basketball in the program’s first year.
- 2016: GHS adds Unified Bowling in its first year of availability.
- 2018: GHS earns its first National Unified Champion School banner recognition.
- 2022-23: GHS renews its National Banner recognition for 2022-26.
- 2023: GHS adds a Unified Cheer club during Unified Basketball season.
- Fall 2023: GHS adds Unified Bocce in its first year of availability.
- 2025-26: Westmere Elementary School, Farnsworth Middle School and Guilderland High School are all recognized as Special Olympics New York Unified Champion Schools.
Guilderland High School students can participate in Unified Physical Education, Unified Basketball, Unified Bocce, Unified Bowling, Unified Cheer, inclusive school events and fundraisers, and the Students for Inclusion Club. This school year, Unified Music and Unified Art are further expanding opportunities for students to connect through shared interests and experiences.
The high school’s repeated banner recognition demonstrates the program’s sustained success. To earn and retain banner status, Guilderland High School has met 10 national Standards of Excellence established by Special Olympics and education leaders that measure a school’s commitment to inclusive sports, youth leadership and schoolwide engagement.
“Twelve years later, we have become a Unified force,” said Allison Relyea, a Guilderland High School physical education teacher and Unified Sports coach who received Special Olympics New York’s 2023 Unified Champion Award. “What started with one program has grown into something that reaches far beyond our schools. We’ve taken the Polar Plunge in Lake George, traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Special Olympics New York and the resources that make Unified programming possible, and watched support for Unified grow throughout our district. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished, but what excites me most is that we’re not done. There are so many people willing to share ideas, give their time and help us keep expanding what Unified can be.”
Lessons beyond competition
The growth of Unified programs has created opportunities for students to develop confidence, leadership and teamwork skills that carry into every aspect of their lives.
For senior Jack Andreski, a Unified partner on Guilderland’s Unified Bocce team, the experience has been especially influential. As a member of the team that qualified for the 2026 Special Olympics New York State Fall Games, he said the experience helped him become a stronger teammate.
“Unified Bocce has really helped me grow collaboratively,” Andreski said. “I’ve learned how to help people stay on the same page, work as a team and adapt when challenges come up.”
Those experiences have reinforced his goal of becoming a teacher and making a positive impact on others, reflecting the broader lessons Unified programs help foster in students.
Connections that last
Few traditions carry as much significance in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community as the giving of a sign name. More than just a name, it represents connection, trust and belonging.
Physical education teacher Jessalyn Sweeney understands the significance of a sign name firsthand. During her first year at Westmere Elementary, her students gave her a sign name that combines “coach,” the letter S and a flexing arm, reflecting both her role and the strength they saw in her. Years later, she watched a similar moment unfold when fifth grader Charlotte received a sign name from her Unified buddy, who paired the letter C with the sign for “nice” to reflect Charlotte’s kindness.
“It was very cool and very special when my students gave me my sign name,” Sweeney said. “Receiving a sign name is a huge honor because it means a Deaf or hard of hearing student has formed a connection with someone and wants to recognize them in a meaningful way.”
The friendships created through Unified PE leave a lasting impression. “It’s like the best thing I will ever do in school,” one elementary student said. For Charlotte, the experience has been equally rewarding. “It’s really fun to work with kids who are younger,” she said. “It’s also fun to learn a different language and use it with them.”
At the high school level, teachers see similar relationships forming through other inclusive experiences.
“It warms my heart to see students enthusiastically greet one another, ask about each other’s weekends and look forward to creating together,” said GHS art teacher Thomas Piejko. “As they make art side by side, friendships form naturally, and those connections often become just as important as the projects themselves.”
What students carry forward
The district’s recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School reflects a culture of inclusion that is woven into the student experience.
Senior Dorian Noakes said participating in Unified activities has changed the way he sees both himself and the people around him. “It’s made me more happy as a person,” Noakes said. “I’m always looking forward to Unified because there are so many happy faces. It makes me happy, joyful and excited every time I get to be there.”
He said being involved in Unified has also helped him become more confident. “I’ve learned that people aren’t judging me. They see you for who you are as a person, not what you look like.”
Senior Caitlin Erickson shared a similar sentiment. “When I first started high school, I felt out of place and was still trying to find where I fit in,” Erickson said. “Through Unified, I found a community where I feel like I belong. It’s made my high school experience so much better, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it for all four years.”
For district leaders, those moments of growth and belonging are what it’s all about. “The real measure of success is seeing students build friendships, discover their strengths and feel confident being themselves. That’s how we know we’re making a difference,” Superintendent Mayberry said.