Horace Mann School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing’s First Deaf Principal

Special Olympics Awards Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner

Special Olympics Massachusetts recently honored four Boston Public Schools with National Banner recognition for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities.

Special Olympics Honors Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner Recognition

BPS has four of only 17 schools in Massachusetts and 217 schools nationwide to achieve the status of National Banner School for the 2024-2025 school year.

BOSTON - DECEMBER 19, 2025- Special Olympics Massachusetts recently named Brighton High School, Mario Umana Academy, Trotter Elementary, and the Warren Prescott K-8 School as National Banner schools for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities. The four schools earned this distinguished status as a result of meeting 10 national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from the Special Olympics and the education community.

"We are incredibly proud that four Boston Public Schools have been recognized as National Banner Unified Champion Schools," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. "This honor reflects our district's and schools’ commitment to creating inclusive environments where every student of all abilities can participate, lead, and thrive. Through programs like Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement, we move closer to building a more inclusive future across all of our schools."

The Unified Champion Schools® model is a strategy for schools Pre-K through university that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without disabilities to create accepting school environments, utilizing three interconnected components: Unified Sports; inclusive youth leadership; and whole-school engagement. As many as 16 million young people are taking part in inclusive experiences through Special Olympics. National Banner Unified Champion Schools also demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.

"At Warren Prescott, our students are at the center of everything we do and our school community works diligently every day to ensure that all our students have the opportunity to connect, lead, and learn alongside their peers of all abilities," said Principal Michele Davis, Warren-Prescott K-8 School. "Our collaborative efforts are grounded in this vision, allowing students to engage meaningfully with each other and helping build a school culture rooted in equity, respect, and inclusion."

Since October 2023, Boston Public Schools (BPS) has been implementing its landmark Inclusive Education Plan for the Boston Public Schools. The plan outlines systemic changes across all BPS divisions to close opportunity gaps and give every student access to rigorous and culturally affirming instruction. This Inclusive Education Plan will transform learning outcomes for all students, upholding the right of every student to be educated in the least-restrictive environment.

"Trotter Elementary celebrates the power of inclusion every day. Our students participate in Unified Sports and school-wide activities that foster understanding, leadership, and friendship across all abilities," said Principal Sarita Thomas, Trotter Elementary School. "Being named a National Banner School emphasizes our commitment to creating a learning environment where all students can thrive socially and academically."

Brighton High School has made history by becoming the first secondary school in Boston Public Schools to earn Special Olympics National Banner recognition. This achievement showcases the school’s commitment to creating an inclusive community where students of all abilities can fully participate in sports, leadership activities, and school life. With its unified sports programs and strong culture of belonging, Brighton sets a great example of what it means to achieve inclusive excellence at the high school level.

"At Brighton High School, our students are at the forefront of creating a community where everyone feels seen, supported, and included," said Principal Andrew Bott, Brighton High School. "This recognition highlights their dedication to uplifting one another, fostering strong friendships, and making our school a welcoming environment for all. We are incredibly proud of the leadership and compassion our students demonstrate every day, which has earned us the Special Olympics National Banner."

Photo: Piano Lab Ribbon Cutting at Umana Academy, 2025.

“This achievement reflects the power of inclusion, teamwork, and community. At the Umana, every student deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated, and earning the National Banner recognition affirms that belief,” said Principal Akua-Nia Francillon, Mario Umana Academy. “I am proud of our school, grateful for our dedicated educators, and inspired by our amazing young people who make the Umana a place where belonging and brilliance are lived every day.”

The Unified Champion Schools® model is supported by the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education. This model has been proven, through research, to be an effective and replicable means to providing students with and without disabilities the opportunity to form positive social relationships and promote a socially inclusive school climate.

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Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s First Deaf School Leader Makes History, Impact In BPS

Horace Mann Hadn't Had A Deaf School Leader In 151 Years Before Dr. Michelle Eisan-Smith Became Principal

Dr. Michelle Eisan-Smith has made history at the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as its first Deaf school leader. Her appointment as principal in 2021 and her ongoing tenure are milestones not only for Horace Mann, the first public day school for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the United States, but also for Boston Public Schools and Deaf education nationwide.

Eisan-Smith’s leadership is especially meaningful for students. As a Deaf leader fluent in American Sign Language, she embodies what is possible for young people in Boston who rarely see themselves reflected in school leadership. Horace Mann serves 80 students between ages 3 and 22 from across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, fostering a safe, inclusive, and culturally affirming learning environment.

"Members of our community cherish our students and each other," said Eisan-Smith. "That caring didn’t just simply happen. It grew from intention, commitment and love. We have cultivated a community together. And people outside of our school can see that as well."

Under Eisan-Smith’s leadership, the percentage of diverse and Deaf staff members in Horace Mann has increased dramatically in four-plus years.

"We’ve actively recruited not only Deaf staff, but also Deaf, BIPOC staff,” Eisan-Smith said. “Currently, 42% of our staff are Deaf (up from around 10% in 2016). We want to make sure our students see themselves. This means we are all role models. That is so important."

Having served the Horace Mann community since 2013, Dr. Eisan-Smith brings over a decade of experience at the school and close to 20 years in the broader field of Deaf education, mental health, and school leadership. Her Horace Mann career started in 2013 as Social Worker Coordinator, a role in which she strengthened student-support systems in close collaboration with families and community partners. As Secondary Program Director between 2016 and 2021, she oversaw daily operations, supervised educators, and guided instructional practices grounded in data, equity, and an anti-racist educator lens. She played a key role supporting a team that developed and secured Horace Mann’s Dual Language designation, helping to shape a five-year strategic vision that centers bilingualism in American Sign Language and English. As principal, she charts Horace Mann’s present and future direction, one in which students are central to the effort to expand their future potential.

Dr. Eisan-Smith’s journey is deeply rooted in service to Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and families. She holds Bachelor's degree in psychology, and Master's and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Gallaudet University and is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts, with specialized expertise in assessment, mental and behavioral health for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.

"I'm so grateful for the people who worked to remove barriers for me, enabling me to get this role," said Eisan-Smith. "It's an honor and very humbling to be able to serve our community.”

“We are the first public day school in America, we’re 156 years strong, for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in education,” Dr. Eisan-Smith told WCVB in November. Her historic leadership honors that legacy while charting a bold, inclusive future for Horace Mann and the Deaf community it proudly serves.

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State Names Six Boston Public Schools as Schools of Recognition

Special Olympics Honors Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner Recognition

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Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s First Deaf School Leader Makes History, Impact In BPS