In an effort to recognize and commend excellence in the implementation and administration of outstanding high school athletic programs, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) has initiated the NIAAA Quality Program Assessment.

The North Haven High School athletic program has been identified as a 2024 recipient of the NIAAA Quality Program Recognition at the Exemplary Level. Pursuant to multiple reviews of the Quality Program application and submitted evidence-based documentation, the NIAAA sincerely congratulates the Nighthawks.

To be recognized as a Quality Program Exemplary High School, an athletic administrator must have successfully completed LTC 799 and present evidence of existing policies, practices, and procedures that meet suggested content rubrics (criteria) within the ten Quality Program assessment categories. To claim points, the school will need to provide documentation of existing school and/or district policies and procedures, along with program achievements, for each of the 10 assessment categories.

The Quality Program Recognition (plaque, banner, and commendation letter) will be presented to Steven Blumenthal, Athletic Director of North Haven High School, during a recognition ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 15, and it will be mentioned at the 2024 NIAAA annual business meeting held during the NIAAA/NFHS national conference in Austin, Texas. In addition, the North Haven High School athletic program will be featured in the NIAAA Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Journal, on the NIAAA website, and in the e-newsletter, as well as media releases to the local news outlets.

It is important to recognize that Quality Program Recognition assumes continuing research and implementation of professional benchmarks and best practices by all award recipients. It is particularly important to pursue highest benchmarks in those areas and criteria in the school’s Quality Program assessment that did not receive maximum assessment scores. The NIAAA emphasizes that an exemplary recognition does not insulate the school administration from challenges concerning philosophy, instructional methods, procedures, techniques, and a range of risk management measures. The primary goal of the NIAAA Quality Program Assessment model is to encourage measurement, planning, and goal setting aimed at continuous improvement of local school athletic programs.

In closing, the NIAAA embraces local school innovation and vision that makes use of suggested best practices in high school athletic programs. The North Haven High School athletic program, its athletic director, principal, superintendent, and school board truly deserve to be congratulated and recognized for implementing and supporting an outstanding athletic department with a commitment to continuous program improvement.