Best Buddies International Honors LBJ Middle School

School named an Outstanding Chapter for working to change the world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Best Buddies International has bestowed its Outstanding Chapter recognition on Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School for providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities.

LBJ Principal Paula Nunez credited the program’s success to special education teacher Sherri Blowers, who has been leading the school’s Best Buddies program for nine years.

“It is incredible to be receiving recognition as Outstanding Chapter by Best  Buddies International for the hard work and dedication that Ms. Blowers provides in creating an inclusive and welcoming community,” she said.

Nunez said parents, students, and staff support the program. 

“Weekly, on Wednesdays, our students gather in the lunch room and join our Best Buddies for fun and games,” she said. “There are ongoing school-sponsored activities as well as community events.”

Best Buddies Senior Vice President David Quilleon announced the recognition in a letter to Albuquerque Public Schools.

“The strong student leadership, faculty support and community connections driving the chapter is helping to pave the way toward total inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” he wrote. “The Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School chapter went above and beyond in each of these areas, truly living the mission of Best Buddies.”

Quilleon added that the strong student leadership, faculty support, and community connections driving the chapter are helping to pave the way toward total inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Winners of the organization’s Outstanding Chapter award were selected based on quality of one-to-one friendships, group outings, chapter involvement, community awareness, and chapter communication.

The Best Buddies program is active at more than 3,500 elementary, middle, and high schools and college chapters around the world.