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Mayo High School—s Unified program wins Special Olympics national banner; board hears student testimony
Summary
The board recognized Mayo High School—s Unified program, honored its Special Olympics National Banner Award, and heard students and staff describe community-building effects and plans to expand the program across the district.
Rochester Public Schools recognized Mayo High School—s Unified program at the Oct. 21 meeting after the school received the Special Olympics National Banner Award.
Superintendent Kent Pickell invited Colin Thomas and Mayo students to the boardroom to describe the program—s student-driven origins and impact. Thomas said the Unified program "is designed to build relationships between our students with and without special needs," adding that Mayo was one of five Minnesota high schools honored nationally in 2025.
Andrea Bacon, the school—s adapted physical education teacher and an early program leader at Mayo, described the program—s effects on school life and named a recently deceased former student as an example of why the work matters. Student leaders Violet Hallam and Penny Houser told the board the club helped them step outside their comfort zones and forge friendships; Hallam said Unified "has created me into the person that I am today." A ninth-grade student, Sawyer Hanson, submitted a recorded message describing the group's social activities and homecoming participation.
Presenters described a wide array of Unified activities — Unified PE, Unified Art, Unified Club, and events such as a polar plunge and dances — and said the program has increased participation in homecoming and prom among students with disabilities. Thomas told the board the Mayo program began at the initiative of a single student and has grown into a model the district hopes to replicate at Century and John Marshall.
Thomas invited board members to attend Thursday-morning Unified Club meetings and asked for board support to expand the program across more schools; he said Mayo currently runs unified classes, a weekly club, and events that bring general education and special education students together.
Board members praised staff, student leaders and families. Director Marvin and Director Cook both thanked the Mayo team for long-term effort and for making students who had been "invisible" feel included. The board did not take action on the recognition; it was presented as an informational recognition item.
