Laurie Chmielewski has been awarded the 2009 Special Olympics North America Coach of the Year. She was chosen from more than 90,000 coaches within Special Olympics North America. Special Olympics provides instruction and develops games for more than 30 sports.
Chmielewski started with Special Olympics in 1983 as a student intern and is now the Orange County Special Olympics Sports Director. She is going into her eighth year with Orange County Public Schools working in Physical Education-Hospital Homebound as an Adaptive Physical Education teacher.
According to the Special Olympics, Chmielewski has made a tremendous impact on the Orange County Special Olympics program and is in the company of the nation’s finest coaches and dedicated volunteers.