FRANKLIN COUNTY, N.C. — Danielle Dietz has enjoyed teaching and encouraging children in the classroom and on the field for more than a decade.

Dietz moved to North Carolina in 2013 and began teaching special education at Bunn High School in Franklin County. That’s when she got involved in Special Olympics.

Dietz was recently recognized with the 2024 Special Olympics North Carolina Volunteer of the Year Award for being a dedicated coach and an advocate for inclusion, according to the group. 

“I was super surprised,” she said. “The Special Olympics means so much to me… To know that I was nominated by folks in the community as well as at the state level, maybe kind of just validates what I've been doing and makes me feel like they're enjoying it just as much as I am, too.”

Dietz has helped Special Olympians reach new heights in their skills and confidence since she moved to North Carolina. Initially, she began coaching athletics and then expanded her role to include year-round activities, such as weekly Zoom sessions for community athletes. 

Since then, Dietz has played a key role in organizing local Special Olympics Franklin County spring games and has represented Franklin County on the national stage, coaching in the Penn Relays and the 2018 and 2022 Special Olympics U.S.A. Games.

“It makes me feel really accomplished that I'm able to provide opportunities for athletes that otherwise might not have that chance to shine,” Dietz said. “I love to see them feel really good and confident about themselves. It makes me feel like I'm helping them reach their goals and helping them achieve something great, and it makes me feel really good about the work that I do with them.”

Dietz's time and effort mean a lot to the athletes and their families, too. 

Lorenzo Stancil, of Zebulon, has been a Special Olympics athlete since he was 8 years old. 

“Coach Danielle's been coaching me for 10 years. She was an awesome coach,” Stancil said. 

Jonah Whitt’s brother, Carter, is a Special Olympics athlete. This is Carter’s first year participating in Franklin County since they moved to the area, and Dietz is coaching him.

“Absolutely grateful. I mean, anyone who comes out here to help these kids is and everyone involved is honestly just a blessing to them and to everyone involved,” Jonah Whitt said.

Dietz is now an assistant professor at East Carolina University, where she teaches future special education teachers. 

For those who want to follow the Special Olympics games, the Franklin County games will be held in April, and the state games will begin at the end of May in Raleigh.