Educational Collaboratives in the Northeast Region of MOEC recently hosted a third annual joint Special Olympics event.
(Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
DANVERS — Aiden Russell, a senior at Valley Collaborative, held his gold medal between two fingers, feeling the raised Special Olympics symbol. He gave his best on the field, and like his fellow student-athletes, beamed with pride in the bright late spring sunshine on June 11 at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers.
Four special education collaboratives — Andover-based CREST Collaborative, Billerica-based Valley Collaborative, Stoneham-based SEEM Collaborative and Beverly-based Northshore Educational Consortium — joined forces for a third year to host a heartwarming and inspiring Special Olympics Collaborative Game Day event, dedicated to students with special needs.
The annual event celebrates the athletic abilities, determination, and joyful spirit of students, fostering an inclusive community and providing a memorable day of achievement and camaraderie.
Students from participating districts competed in a variety of athletic events designed to be inclusive and accessible for all ability levels, including track and field races, throwing events, and adaptive obstacle courses. The day emphasized participation, personal bests, and the joy of sportsmanship.
“We are incredibly excited to bring this Special Olympics event to our students,” said Jae Handler, a CREST Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and the event’s Special Olympics Coordinator. “It’s a testament to what can be achieved when organizations work together with a shared vision. This day is all about empowering our students, building their confidence, and giving them a platform to shine brightly.”
This collaborative effort highlights the commitment of CREST Collaborative, SEEM Collaborative, Northshore Education Consortium, and Valley Collaborative to enhance educational and extracurricular opportunities for students with special needs across their respective communities. By pooling resources and expertise, the collaboratives are able to create a high-quality, impactful event that would be challenging for any single organization to undertake alone.
After the public school Game Day Events grew too large, Bill Bryant, Director of Programs at CREST, spearheaded a new initiative: a collaborative Special Olympics Game Day.
“Three years later, our event for CREST, SEEM, Valley, and Northshore collaboratives has become a highlight, fostering growth and improving the experience for all student participants,” Bryant said.
Bryant, who served as master of ceremonies, worked with the rest of the annual Game Day’s founding members — Handler and Rachel Riley, from CREST; Peter Loring and Katie Nutile, from Valley Collaborative; Susan Tremonte and Maria Hudson, from SEEM; and Martha Krol and Sheila Guiney, from Northshore.
The small, dedicated group of collaborative staff members has worked tirelessly for the past three years to keep the event growing and improving each year. They’ve also developed relationships with local community sponsors, including Tony Colella Landscaping, Fitzgerald Physical Therapy Associates, The WILD Salon, and AXA Insurance Corporation.
Volunteers from the community, school staff, and families have been integral to the event’s success, providing encouragement, assistance, and creating a vibrant, supportive atmosphere.
“What a wonderful experience it was for our students to participate in this Special Olympics event,” said Francine H. Rosenberg, Executive Director of the Northshore Education Consortium. “Students with disabilities don’t always have opportunities to be part of larger community activities. They had the opportunity to compete in fun sporting events, adapted to their skill levels, with students from other schools. They received medals, carried banners, had people cheering for them, and participated in a parade of athletes led by police officers carrying torches. The smiles on the faces of students and staff were priceless! This was a day that they will remember!”
Rosenberg joined the leaders of the other three collaboratives — CREST Collaborative Executive Director Bob Jokela, SEEM Collaborative Executive Director Cathy Lawson, and Valley Collaborative Executive Director Chris Scott — at the event, which is quickly becoming a tradition for all four special education providers.
Every student won a gold medal. Every student won a chance to stand on the three first-place medal pedestals.
CREST Teacher and event disc jockey Andres Jones worked the turntables as students took turns singing and dancing to Jock Jams like “Are you Ready for This?” and the Frozen theme song, “Let It Go.” Athletes Isaac Wilson, JJ Tumbarello, and Freddy Abreu led the crowd in singing the national anthem.
A unit of local law enforcement officers — Assistant Superintendent Moe Pratt, of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department; Chief Jamie Lovell, Lt. Derek Colella, Sgt. Jeff Smith, Capt. Ashley Sanborn, and Officers Jason Skane, Mike Chase, and Jake Casucci, of the Danvers Police Department; and Officer Chris Liacos of the Gloucester Police Department — led a march of Special Olympians, along the track and onto the field.
To conclude the event’s Welcome Ceremony, Valley student Keegan Graham led the participants in a recitation of the Special Olympics Athlete Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
“On behalf of Special Olympics, Massachusetts, and the four participating collaboratives, I warmly welcome all of you here today,” Handler told the crowd. “Let’s give a big hand to the athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers who have come out today to compete and show their spirit and support!”
The St. John’s stadium erupted with cheers and applause.
“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of modern special education, we are incredibly proud to see four educational collaboratives join forces to provide a vibrant and inclusive Special Olympics program for students across our communities,” said Joanne Haley Sullivan, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives (MOEC). “This partnership reflects the deep commitment of collaboratives to ensure that students of all abilities have access to meaningful opportunities for growth, connection, and achievement. As the statewide organization supporting Massachusetts’ educational collaboratives, MOEC celebrates this effort as a powerful example of how collaboration can expand opportunities for students on the full spectrum of disabilities. We commend these collaboratives for their leadership and heart — and for helping every student experience the joy of belonging.”
For more information about the Special Olympics event or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, please contact Jae Handler at jhandler@crestcollaborative.org or Bill Bryant at bbryant@crestcollaborative.org.
About the Collaboratives
CREST Collaborative is a public school collaborative dedicated to partnering with other public school districts to provide comprehensive services to students who require additional support beyond what their home school districts offer. With a diverse range of six different programs specifically designed to cater to varying needs and learning styles, CREST ensures each of our 270 students and 59 adults receives the personalized attention necessary for their academic, personal, and vocational success. CREST students may face a diverse range of challenges that impact their academic success, including behavioral, emotional, physical, cognitive, and medical issues. The specialized services and expertise of CREST Collaborative are tailored to address these unique and often complex challenges. CREST collaborates directly with school districts across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to provide resources in their home school or facilitate student placement at the CREST campus in Andover.
Northshore Education Consortium
The Northshore Education Consortium was one of the first regional collaboratives in Massachusetts and is the largest provider of intensive special education services to children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and developmental disabilities on the North Shore. Since 1975, NEC’s mission has been to support member districts by offering high-quality, cost-effective school programs, consultation, professional development, support services, and resources.
SEEM Collaborative is an educational collaborative governed by 11 public school districts. Since 1968, SEEM has served the students, parents, educators, and specialists from its member districts. The Collaborative provides a full range of services to students in the northeast region of Massachusetts. Services range from educational programming to consultative services that are provided in the district and/or at home. Each student receives the blend of services needed to support his/her unique needs and to enable academic, social, and emotional advancement.
Valley Collaborative was established in 1976 to meet the special education needs of the students and adults of its nine member districts and surrounding communities. Valley currently serves more than 400 K-12 students and 225 adults with a dedicated staff of 250 teachers, education specialists, therapists, paraprofessionals and adult support professionals. Valley’s mission is to work collaboratively in order to create a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and responsive learning environment that recognizes individuals and empowers them to navigate confidently with optimal independence in their community and fosters lifelong learning.
In 2025, the Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives (MOEC) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of special education with a series of feature stories that will help to tell the untold stories of collaboratives to help educate the public about what collaboratives do and how they have evolved to serve the needs of our most vulnerable students over the past five decades.In 1975, Congress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education. Congress changed the name of the law to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), in a 1990 reauthorization — and IDEA was again reauthorized in 2004.MOEC is the professional organization representing the Commonwealth’s educational collaboratives. Massachusetts Collaboratives are a statewide network of educational service agencies that work together with school districts and schools to implement direct educational services and programs to students and adults, develop programs and services to enhance school districts’ operating efficiency, and provide high-quality professional development and technical assistance.
###
Students took turns leaping into the long jump pit. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Educational Collaboratives in the Northeast Region of MOEC recently hosted the third annual joint Special Olympics event. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
CREST student Katrina Bell clears the obstacle course. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Special Olympians take a break from the festivities to sample an icy treat. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Every participant earned a gold Special Olympics medal. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Aiden Russell, a senior at Valley Collaborative, shows off his gold Special Olympics medal. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Three CREST students — Zachary Nichol, Jayden Phan, and Evelyn Ryan Jacobson — await their Special Olympics medals. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
A Valley Collaborative student gets ready to try the Hoop Roll event. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
CREST Teacher and event DJ Andres Jones kept the tunes flowing as students took turns singing and dancing. One student belted out a heartfelt rendition of the Frozen theme song, “Let It Go.” (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
The Field Hockey event challenged students to score goals with pool noodles and a beach ball. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Several nurses who work for the collaboratives took a turn at the medals stand and struck a few poses. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives)
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.