Coaching for Inclusion | PaTTANpod [S5E1]

The understanding and practice of inclusive classrooms and schools has been a foundation within Pennsylvania. Simply stated, inclusive education means that all students are accepted and have a true sense of belonging within the school community. The conversation will focus on inclusive practices and what they may look like in a school setting with Mike Bovino, Senior Advisor for Special Olympics, Pennsylvania. Mike Bovino has been a Senior Advisor for Special Olympics PA since July of 2014, focusing on strategic initiatives, organizational development, school partnerships, and fundraising. He collaborates with a dedicated staff who currently support more than 270 schools throughout the state with fully inclusive Unified Champion Schools programming. This program utilizes Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement activities to empower students, promote inclusion, and improve overall school climate. Mike has worked in the Special Olympics movement for more than 30 years, starting in the international headquarters as the first Director of Sports Marketing. Over the years, he has helped to develop new sports and inclusion programming, built enriching Unified Champion Schools partnerships with over 425 schools in two states + the District of Columbia, and focused on organizational development, strategic planning, and numerous fundraising initiatives. He has been a global and national leader in Special Olympics Unified Sports since its inception in 1989, and is one of only five people ever to be honored as a Global Unified Sports Leadership Award recipient. Unified Sports brings together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team for training and competition as equal peers and is highly successful in fostering social inclusion. In addition to Special Olympics, Mike has worked with other nonprofits over the years as a consultant, and also served as Vice President for the United States Basketball League. He earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan.