Northville special education teacher earns state-wide leader award

Inside a jam-packed Northville High School gymnasium, during an enthsiasm-charged Homecoming Pep Assembly, tears momentarily streamed down the face of special education teacher Kelsey Mikiciuk.

The happy tears were triggered by the surprise announcement that Mikiciuk was the recipient of the Michigan Unified Champion Schools Leader Award.

There are 554 member schools in Michigan, explained Dan Ekonen, the senior director of program leadership for the Michigan Special Olympics.

“I had no idea this was going to happen,” said Mikiciuk, moments after she received the state-wide award. “In August, I found out I was one of 15-plus people nominated. My kids and husband are here, my parents are here … what a special day.”

(Watch a video of the surprise announcement by clicking here.)

She launched district’s Unified Sports program

It was also revealed that Northville Public Schools has met all the requirements to become one of the first Unified Champion School Districts in Michigan. In 2018, Northville High was named a Unified Champion School, and in 2021, the school received National Banner Recognition.

Mikiciuk started Unified Sports at Northville High School and the program has since spread district-wide .

Unified Sports is a program that joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams with the goal of promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, fostering friendships and understanding.

“This district embodies everything Special Olympics and Unified Sports stand for,” Mikiciuk said. “And they do it with ease because everybody is so accepting here.”

Ekonen praised Mikiciuk and Northville Public Schools for setting a standard when it comes to Unified Champion Schools.

“It’s not only what they do, but the regular basis on which they do it,” Ekonen said. “It’s a model program.”

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.