Hundreds of students from across Cobb County attended the annual Special Education Dance, which took place with the theme “Zootopia: Better Zoogether.” The event welcomed about 500 students from various middle and high schools in the district. Organizers said the theme was chosen to emphasize the importance of working together and fostering inclusion.
“It’s such a beautiful thing to see, and it’s such a special moment for them because they really do remember things like this,” said Adyson, a senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School (KMHS). “This is one of my favorite moments of my senior year, and here at Kennesaw Mountain, it’s something seniors especially look forward to, and I’m sad it’s my last one,” she added.
The dance is designed as a multi-school celebration that allows students to form new friendships and reconnect with familiar faces. It is considered one of the most anticipated events each year for many participants. Students have the opportunity to dress up, take photos, enjoy music, and spend time in an environment created specifically for them.
Nearly 200 volunteers from KMHS spent several weeks preparing for the event. Their responsibilities included planning, decorating, organizing logistics, and serving as dance partners or guides during the dance. Volunteers greeted guests at the entrance and accompanied them throughout the evening to ensure everyone felt welcome.
“We’ve spent about 15 hours every week, and we stay every day after school until about 7 p.m.,” said Ana, a senior volunteer at KMHS. “It’s been really fun putting this together.”
For some families in Cobb Schools’ special education programs, the dance is a significant occasion. Deyton, a 17-year-old student at McEachern High School who has Down syndrome, prepared for days by practicing his dance moves and selecting songs he wanted to hear.
“There hasn’t been a morning where he has awakened where he didn’t have a smile on his face, and we’re proud of that,” said Deyton’s mother, Karen Moss Sullivan.
Deyton’s family looks forward to this event each year. This time he chose his “church clothes” for the occasion and hoped to hear songs from his favorite movie.
“Deyton is very energetic. He loves people, and he never meets someone he doesn’t know,” said Deyton’s father, Daryl.
According to Deyton’s mother: “It gives them an environment to participate where it’s just for them, and it’s a blessing to have students there as well. For us parents, that means they’re being accepted.”
Kennesaw Mountain High School plays an active role in community service initiatives like this dance. The school encourages student involvement in such projects as part of its broader commitment to building a supportive learning community (official website). Nathan Stark serves as one of KMHS’s notable personnel members (official website).
KMHS is recognized not only for its academic achievements but also for its positive school culture within Cobb County (official website). The school is affiliated with Cobb County School District (official website) and focuses on preparing students for college or careers (official website).
At its core, organizers say that the Special Education Dance aims to foster connection among students across Cobb Schools.
“It gives them an environment to participate where it’s just for them… For us parents, that means they’re being accepted,” said Karen Moss Sullivan.
