Mississippi High School Activities Association The place for high school sports in Mississippi NEWS RELEASE
O’Bannon High School (Greenville, Mississippi) Earns Level 1 Status in NFHS School Honor Roll Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Schuster
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 10, 2021) – The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is pleased to announce that O’Bannon High School in Greenville, Mississippi, has earned Level 1 status in the NFHS School Honor Roll. O’Bannon High School is the second school in Mississippi to earn School Honor Roll status, following Oxford High School.
The NFHS School Honor Roll is a national recognition program designed to promote professional development for high school coaches by completing specific online education courses through the NFHS Learning Center (www.NFHSLearn.com).
In earning Level 1 status, more than 90 percent of the coaches at O’Bannon High School completed the core course “Fundamentals of Coaching” along with three of the Learning Center’s most significant courses – “Concussion in Sports,” “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” and “Protecting Students from Abuse.”
“We want to congratulate the coaches and administration at O’Bannon High School for taking this significant step in prioritizing professional development,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS executive director. “These four courses will definitely help the coaches at O’Bannon High School to handle the daily challenges in high school sports and should serve as a challenge for other schools to follow their example.”
“At O’Bannon High School of the Western Line School District, we strive for excellence in education,” said Dr. Willie L. Goins, Jr., principal of O’Bannon High School. “Athletics and academics go hand-in-hand, and we are proud to display this achievement award as a sign of our commitment to professional development to enhance the lives of our student-athletes.”
“The O’Bannon High School Athletic Department is committed to continuously learning,” said Lynn D. Lang, athletic director of O’Bannon High School. “Our coaches promote teamwork, safety and sportsmanship with a direct emphasis on character building. We believe these areas are interconnected.”
As a physical sign of completing Level 1 certification, O’Bannon High School will receive a large display banner for its school gymnasium to commemorate its accomplishments and dedication to professional development and education-based activity programs.
Schools can earn Level 2 status (and a Level 2 banner) on the NFHS School Honor Roll when more than 90 percent of their coaches – excluding volunteer coaches – complete courses that pertain specifically to sports they coach, along with “First Aid, Health and Safety,” “Heat Illness Prevention” and “Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.”
A Level 3 banner will be awarded for schools that reach 90-percent completion for the “Sportsmanship,” “Strength and Conditioning,” “Teaching and Modeling Behavior,” “Engaging Effectively with Parents” and “Bullying, Hazing, and Inappropriate Behaviors” courses.
“Earning the NFHS School Honor Roll banner is a symbol that the school and its coaches are committed to providing a great experience for young people, and it’s something that everyone can be proud of within their communities,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS Director of Educational Services.
For more information on the NFHS School Honor Roll and to apply for participation in the program, please visit https://nfhslearn.com/home/administrators.
