Lemoore High School, Lemoore, California Ten years ago, Principal Cawley of Lemoore High School introduced the community to his vision for a school that would include all students. He initiated action on his vision by inviting key stakeholders, such as disability advocates, parents, teachers, and students to engage in a dialogue that fostered the formation of a collaborative action plan. This plan addressed stakeholder concerns and issues by outlining strategies for maintaining and improving student achievement while incorporating full inclusion. Today the school serves as an inclusion model for California by using a variety of strategies that involve teachers, students, and parents. During school activities and unstructured time, social integration among all students is encouraged by teaming disabled and non-disabled students.
Students report they are more aware of their similarities rather than their differences.
All students receive benefits from an inclusive school, not just kids on IEP's. Mike Cawley is the Principal of Lemoore High School. He is also President of CAL TASH, an organization that advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities. During the 1980s, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education faced a leadership crisis. There was a serious backlog of candidates waiting to take the school administrators exam while a large number of schools were operating without qualified leaders.