The key element in any Community Partnership School is the partnership among the organizations involved at the school. I’m fortunate to work with a tremendous group of people who make up Evans High School, A Community Partnership School.

As the Community Partnership School Director, I interact and work with not only students, but teachers, staff and partners. It’s an honor to serve this school and see the impact the partnerships have on everyone at Evans.

At the end of 2017, one of our Exceptional Student Educator (ESE) instructors, Ms. Dufour had reached out looking for a way to get her students to have their sports physicals completed through the Evans Health and Wellness Center. These students were slated to participate in the Orange County Public Schools Special Olympics and needed physicals to be eligible.

Partnering with our healthcare provider Orange Blossom Family Health, we were able to work with the students to get their necessary paperwork and physical exams completed in time for the competition. Because of the hard work of the students, teachers and staff and our amazing partners at Orange Blossom Family Health, the physicals were completed by the deadline and the students were able to compete.

Upon completion of the physicals and preparation for the Special Olympics, Ms. Dufour said, “Without the assistance of the HUB and Wellness Center, this would not have been possible for our students.  Thank you so much!”

I’m so excited to share that at that event, the students placed in basketball at the local and regional levels. They then advanced to the state competition where they won gold and bronze medals.