Courtesy of KTXS | Story by Caitlin Leggett
Wylie High School received a special honor this week as Special Olympics awarded Wylie ISD a National Unified Champion School banner, recognizing the district’s commitment to building an inclusive, welcoming environment for all students.
KTXS reporter Caitlin Leggett visited the campus to capture the celebration, speak with students, and highlight the incredible work happening in our Unified program. We are grateful to KTXS for spending the afternoon with our athletes and sharing their story with the Big Country.
A Program Built on Belonging
For the past three and a half years, Wylie teacher and Unified coach DeeDee Baker has helped grow the Unified program from a once-a-week activity to a daily class that now offers elective credit.
“Unified pairs students with intellectual disabilities with students without intellectual disabilities so they can learn, serve, and compete together,” Baker shared. “My goal is not just to include students, but to give them experiences they wouldn’t normally have.”
Those experiences range from community service to working concession stands to riding on a float in the Abilene Christmas Parade.
A Big Surprise at the Lanes
Last year, Wylie earned the Texas state Unified banner. This year, Baker applied for national recognition — and the announcement came during a bowling competition, catching everyone off guard in the best way.
“We got our national banner there. That was a big surprise. That was amazing,” said students Devyn Collum and Jaxon Henderson, who also spoke with KTXS.
They emphasized how the program has changed the campus culture: “Just since Unified, we’ve had this huge inclusion with each other.”
What the National Banner Means
According to Special Olympics, a National Unified Champion School demonstrates an inclusive climate where collaboration, engagement, and respect are the norm. Schools must meet 10 national standards of excellence to earn the banner — a milestone that reflects the heart and hard work of Wylie’s students and staff.
Today, the program includes about 30 students and continues to grow each year.
Thank You, KTXS!
Wylie ISD extends our sincere thanks to KTXS and reporter Caitlin Leggett for shining a light on this important work and celebrating our students.
📎 Read the full KTXS story here:
https://ktxs.com/news/local/special-olympics-honors-wylie-isd-with-national-banner-for-unified-champion-school-efforts