Teacher pushes unified sports
A West Salem High teacher is using her Mrs. Salem pageant platform to advocate for unified sports programs across Oregon, promoting participation opportunities for athletes with different abilities. (kptv.com) The campaign ties pageant visibility to calls for inclusive teams and expanded programming in local schools. (kptv.com)
A West Salem High School teacher is using her Mrs. Salem pageant campaign to press for more unified sports teams in Oregon schools. (kptv.com) Lori Anderson teaches physical education at West Salem and coaches the Titans’ Special Olympics Unified program. KPTV reported on April 17 that she is competing as Mrs. Salem in the Mrs. Oregon America pageant. (kptv.com) Unified sports pair students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams. Special Olympics Oregon says its Unified Champion Schools program is built to give both groups “an authentic participatory and competitive experience” in school activities. (soor.org) Anderson’s school already has one of the state’s most visible programs. West Salem High earned a national Unified banner in February 2025, and Salem Reporter said only three Oregon schools received that distinction in 2024. (salemreporter.com) That recognition followed broader district growth. Salem-Keizer Public Schools said in March 2023 that all six of its comprehensive high schools, including West Salem, had been designated Unified Champion Schools by Special Olympics. (salkeiz.k12.or.us) West Salem’s program has expanded beyond standard gym equipment. Salem Reporter said Anderson used a Maps Community Foundation grant to buy audible balls for blind students and lower basketball hoops for students who use wheelchairs. (salemreporter.com) Unified sports are no longer rare in Oregon, but access still depends on the school. Oregonian/OregonLive reported in August 2025 that more than 150 campuses in the state offered Unified Sports teams. (oregonlive.com) The pageant gives Anderson a statewide stage just before the 2026 Oregon America Pageants in Salem on May 2. Travel Salem lists the event as the state preliminary for the Mrs. America and Miss for America Strong competitions. (travelsalem.com) Special Olympics Oregon says it uses year-round training and competition to serve children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the state. Anderson is trying to turn that model into a bigger school-by-school footprint, starting with the visibility she gets as Mrs. Salem. (soor.org)
