Maine native to coach at World Special Olympics

ORRINGTON – Jacqueline Perkins Schroeder has been chosen Special Olympics assistant athletics coach representing the USA in the 2007 World Special Olympics to be held this fall in Shanghai, China.

Citing her continuous dedication, successful hard work and superior commitment to her profession, the National Special Olympics committee chose Schroeder to coach for the United States team. She and her team will spend several weeks in Asia as they train and compete. She will coach a team made up of the nation’s top track athletes with special needs, including some of her own competitors.

Schroeder is the daughter of Gerald and Joyce Perkins and the granddaughter of Raymond and Louise Perkins of Orrington. She is a graduate of Rumford High School and the University of Maine, with degrees in education and studio arts.

She and her husband, Stephen Schroeder, live in Flagstaff, Ariz., where they have worked as therapists for several years for the Hozhoni Foundation.

Jacqueline Schroeder’s job includes organizing extra-curricular activities at Hozhoni. She teaches and coaches many activities and sports including arts, crafts and cultural dining, weekly bowling outings, swimming, softball, track and other physical activities. Her duties include grant writing, day- and weeklong hikes, camp-outs and rafting, which she organizes and participates in.

Schroeder is an advocate for those with special needs and makes presentations throughout Arizona. She takes her Special Olympics sports teams all over the state for competitions. Last fall she was chosen as head coach of athletics for Team Arizona at the National Special Olympics in Ames, Iowa.