we’re really proud of is the sportsmanship award,” emphasizes Ljiljanich, a testament to NWCSD’s belief that character development matters as much as competition. LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES AND FUTURE GOALS At NWCSD, leadership is as much about learning as it is about guiding others. Ljiljanich embodies this philosophy daily.“I always walk out of [student interactions] realizing I’ve learned something I didn’t know before,” he reflects, describing recent work with life skills students on art projects. Dr. Davis personifies this growth mindset at the organizational level, having recently completed her doctorate at 59. “I think it’s important that we set an example for not only the kids, but the staff too,” she explains, demonstrating that professional development has no expiration date. Stack brings a human-centered approach to district leadership. His guiding principle, “everybody is district’s arts curriculum spans from middle school musicals to AP art courses, with student work proudly displayed across district buildings. Athletics mirror this inclusive approach. With 69 programs, NWCSD was recently honored as one of only 13 New York schools to earn “national banner status” from Special Olympics for its unified sports initiative.“Unified basketball is offered here...along with bowling and extramural bocce,” explains Stack. Each team engages 25-30 students, blending general and special education populations through sportsmanship.“It’s really been a powerful thing for our school community to be engaged in. It allows our students that are very active on our varsity teams to work really well with students that have not had those opportunities in the past and have had some disadvantages due to disabilities of some sort, and it’s really a powerful thing,” he adds. This philosophy extends to traditional athletics, where the district has won multiple awards in the competitive Niagara Frontier League.“The award that SMART SCHOOLS Your journey to a Smart School starts here The Smart School is digitally connected to the next generation, for the next generation. Start your journey to a Smart School today to create the foundation for a smarter tomorrow. usa.siemens.com/smartschool 269 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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