Oxford High School's LaCapra Named Special Olympics North America

Special Olympics Connecticut proudly announces that Jennifer LaCapra has been named 2020 Special Olympics North America Outstanding Unified Champion Schools Coach. LaCapra, of Woodbury, is a wellness teacher and coach of the Special Olympics Unified Sports® program at Oxford High School (in Oxford, Connecticut). Special Olympics Unified Sports brings individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together on the team to play sports and inspire equity, acceptance and inclusion for people of all abilities. Unified Sports is offered in more than 95% of Connecticut's public high schools as well as middle and elementary schools through Special Olympics Connecticut's partnership with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC). Oxford High School is a Special Olympics Unified Champion School®, which promotes inclusion through three components: Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement.

LaCapra was notified of the honor during a surprise visit to her school by representatives from Special Olympics Connecticut, Special Olympics North America and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, surrounded by a cheering assembly of students and faculty. This marked the first year the honor was given specifically to a Unified Champion Schools Coach; LaCapra was one of over 20 Special Olympics coaches nominated and is one of 147,000 Special Olympics North America coaches overall.

“Unified Sports is my passion. I just love what it brings to the entire school community. Seeing the kids working together, the relationships that form. Whether it’s on the court or in the hallways. It’s honestly the best thing that I’ve been a part of as a coach, seeing the bonds that form between teammates,” said LaCapra upon learning of the honor.

LaCapra established the Unified Sports program at Oxford High School and has coached Unified basketball, volleyball, track and field and kickball, as well as Unified PE classes for more than nine years, resulting in a more inclusive school climate. She also organizes and hosts Unified Sports tournaments at Oxford for students from schools across the state. Under her leadership, Oxford High School has been recognized by Special Olympics Connecticut as an Outstanding High School Unified Program. In addition, LaCapra was the 2020 recipient of the Special Olympics Connecticut/CIAC's George Synnott Unified Coach of the Year Award and named Unified Coach of the Year by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association in 2018.

LaCapra's accomplishments also include empowering her students to present at the Special Olympics National Leadership Summit in Columbia, South Carolina and annual Special Olympics Connecticut Unified Youth Leadership Summit. She secured an opportunity for two Unified teammates to participate in the Special Olympics World Leadership Summit in Abu Dhabi in 2019. She also organizes inclusive school activities that include field days with the nearby elementary school, Choose to Include and Random Acts of Kindness campaigns, and safe, socially-distanced kickball games and virtual social events during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep her student athletes active and engaged. She has helped athletes find their voice, gain a deeper sense of confidence and build friendships through her dedication and tireless efforts.

"Ms. LaCapra is a model employee who consistently goes above and beyond for our students, staff and parents. She is uncompromising in her efforts to provide unity and Unified Sports not only at OHS but across the district. Her consistency with the students and genuine investment in their achievement are the reasons so many families trust her," said Dorothy Potter, Principal of Oxford High School.

"Her own personal qualities are the major reason that the program there has been so successful. She is definitely a people person and is one that consistently takes advantage of every opportunity and makes things happen," said Bob Hale, Director of Unified Sports, Special Olympics Connecticut/CIAC.

Beau Doherty, President of Special Olympics Connecticut, conceived the idea of Unified Sports over thirty years ago and founded the partnership with CIAC to bring the program into Connecticut’s schools. He describes LaCapra as “an impressive, accomplished woman whose achievements demonstrate compassion, leadership and inclusion.”
Special Olympics North America Outstanding Coach is a recognition given annually to a Special Olympics coach who has made a significant impact and demonstrated exceptional commitment to both the Program, their athletes and the movement. Nominations in the additional category of Unified Champion Schools Coach were first accepted in 2020.

About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 193 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)