Ridgefield High School is continuing to grow opportunities for inclusion, leadership, and connection through its Unified Program, building on the school’s recent recognition as a Unified Champion School.
Unified Champion Schools are recognized for promoting meaningful inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities through sports, leadership, and school-wide engagement opportunities. To earn the designation, schools must demonstrate success in three key areas:
Inclusive Sports
Inclusive Youth Leadership
Whole School Awareness and Involvement
RHS is now working toward becoming a National Unified Champion School, which requires schools to implement 10 national standards over the course of a full school year. Ridgefield High School plans to complete those standards during the 2026-27 school year and submit its application in May 2027.
Programs already established at RHS include:
Unified Basketball
Unified Soccer
Unified ASB
Lunch Buddy Program
Unified Prom in partnership with Woodland and La Center school districts
School-wide assemblies recognizing Unified athletes and programs
Varsity Letters for Unified Sports participants
Additional programs planned for next year include:
Unified Robotics
Unified PE
Unified Leadership Club
Expanded school-wide awareness activities and “Fans in the Stands” events
One of the newest additions is a Unified PE class designed by RHS Special Education teacher Tessa Johnson, who also holds a PE endorsement. Johnson has worked with Central Washington University to become a College in the High School adjunct professor, allowing student partners enrolled in the course to earn college credit while building leadership skills and supporting inclusive practices.
The course will include 15 students participating in the Unified Program alongside 15 peer partners working together throughout the class.
The school is also launching a Unified Leadership Club, which will meet monthly and help students lead awareness activities and support the continued growth of the Unified Program.
RHS Principal Jeremy Tortora credited several individuals for helping build the program.
“Tessa Johnson has worked incredibly hard to develop the Unified PE class, and Corey Brink has done an outstanding job growing awareness through Unified Soccer and Basketball while helping establish the Unified Varsity Letter,” Tortora said.
Tortora also recognized his son, Caleb Tortora, for helping launch Unified Athletics at RHS during his freshman year in 2022.
“Caleb stepped up to recruit partners, spread awareness, and lead assemblies recognizing our student-athletes,” Tortora said. “We are extremely proud to have gone from zero participation in 2021 to becoming a Unified Champion School, and we’re excited about the opportunity to continue growing toward national recognition.”
The Unified Program reflects Ridgefield School District’s ongoing commitment to creating inclusive opportunities where all students feel connected, supported, and celebrated.