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Edina Unified pairs students with and without special needs in a variety of settings, both academic and social. The ultimate goal of this leadership team is to cultivate authentic, lifelong friendships that will last far beyond their time in Edina Public Schools.

Edina Unified Accomplishments

Key Contacts

Lisa Hanson
EHS Special Education Teacher

Madison Akins
EHS Special Education Teacher

Jodie Mettee
VVMS Special Education Teacher

Jennie Schaefer
SVMS Special Education Teacher

Rachel Knaeble
SVMS Special Education Teacher

Students participating in the Unified Dance Party.

UNIFIED DANCE PARTY

Students participating in the Unified Track Meet.

UNIFIED TRACK MEET

Students Participating in Unified Bingo.

UNIFIED BINGO

Students participating in Unified Skiing.

UNIFIED SKI DAY

Unified Night Out

UNIFIED NIGHT OUT

Unified Champion Schools

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools is a movement aimed at empowering a generation of student leaders to change their school culture to be more inclusive. With sports as the foundation, the three-component model offers activities that equip students with tools and training to create teams, classrooms and entire schools of acceptance. Unified Champion Schools are schools where students with disabilities feel welcome and are meaningfully included in all school activities, opportunities and functions.

This is accomplished by implementing three components of Unified Champion Schools: Inclusive Student LeadershipUnified Sports, and Whole School Engagement. All three areas are crucial to shift the culture of a school towards inclusion. Once the three components are active, a school is considered a Unified Champion School.

South View Middle School has earned the distinction of a Unified Champion School.

The goal of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools is to make Minnesota’s schools more inclusive. Learn more HERE.

Special Olympics MN

Edina Unified Across the District

Polar Plunge

EPS is always looking for ways to promote inclusion and acceptance by partnering with Special Olympics MN and their inclusion programs.

Participating in the Cool School Mobile Plunge is one of many ways the district prioritizes and invests in inclusive programming.

2022 Cool School Mobile Plunge

Polar Plunge

Edina students and staff are Freezin' for a Reason as they took the plunge into freezing cold water to support Special Olympics Minnesota. EPS surpassed its fundraising goal and raised more than $30,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota and Edina Unified programming!

Theatre For All

Theatre For All

Established in 2014, Edina High School’s Theatre For All program brings Edina Unified programming to theatre. This course pairs special needs students with their peers to create and perform roles together.

Theatre For All

This partnership model allows students who typically do not get the opportunity to engage in performance the chance to be center stage.

By the end of the course, students have created a show which they proudly share with the community.

Unified Skiing

UNIFIED SKI DAY

Unified Dance Party

UNIFIED DANCE PARTY

Unified Track Meet

UNIFIED TRACK MEET

Five children holding hands.