In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, The Up Side of Downs organization is honoring educators for their exceptional work in the classroom and beyond. Beachwood cross country coach Jamie Lader is one of those honorees.
Lader was nominated by Beachwood cross country runner Peter Bruening and his family.
The nomination read:
"Coach Lader coaches all of his teams with a splendid level of consistency – no matter at what level one competes. This was particularly evident with his coaching of Peter. Even in his freshman year, when Peter was not up to finishing the 3.1 mile course, Coach Lader would give him praise for what he did finish and work with him during practice to enable him to achieve his goals. His enthusiasm is contagious and Peter responded in kind. When Peter began finishing the entire course, it was his coach who was most thrilled at what he had accomplished and kept encouraging him to do more.
"Peter has become well known at the races. Enough so that the teams with whom he competes cheer and encourage him by name during the races. His teammates treat him just like everyone else and his coach seems to save his best baritone cheers for Peter – even though he is often, but not always, the last runner to cross the finish line. As parents, it has been deeply gratifying to hear Coach Lader’s pride as he recounts Peter’s latest best time or the fact that he passed two or three other runners."
Congratulations Coach Lader.
Click here for more information on The Up Side of Downs.
