Pittsford Schools Honored with Prestigious National Award for Excellence in Athletics

The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) has officially recognized the Pittsford Schools athletic program with the 2025 NIAAA Quality Program Recognition at the Exemplary Level, a distinction awarded to only a select number of high schools nationwide that demonstrate excellence in athletic program administration.

This prestigious honor is the result of a rigorous evaluation process, which involved a comprehensive review of Pittsford’s athletic policies, practices, procedures, and achievements across ten key categories of program quality. The assessment focused on evidence-based documentation that reflects the school’s commitment to best practices in interscholastic athletics.

To qualify for this top-tier recognition, Pittsford’s Director of Athletics, Patrick Irving, Ed.D., successfully completed the Leadership Training Course, a capstone professional development module offered by the NIAAA. The school district also provided detailed evidence of how it meets — and in many areas, exceeds — nationally suggested rubrics for quality athletic programs.

Irving accepted the award on behalf of the Pittsford Central School District at the National Athletic Directors Conference in December. Award banners will be hung at Mendon High School and Sutherland High School to showcase this impressive achievement.

The Quality Program Recognition includes a commemorative plaque, a banner, and a letter of commendation — all celebrating the District’s strategic vision and commitment to excellence. It also serves as a formal acknowledgment of the collaboration between Pittsford Schools’s athletic department, school administration, and District leadership in fostering a student-centered, continuously improving athletic culture.