Story by Ainsley Hall, The Journal, September 28, 2023
MARTINSBURG — Martinsburg High School Assistant Principal Shelby Glover, along with school facilitator and special education teacher Allee Fream, joined an online webinar as panelists to talk about how the school uses the Intellispark program.
The “Accelerating Student Support: Unlocking Impact with Improved Communication” webinar focused on how schools can use Intellispark to create better communication between teachers and staff concerning students.
Martinsburg High School started using Intellispark three years ago. Every student has seven to eight different teachers, making it impossible for them to keep track of everything a student might be going through. Through Intellispark, teachers can better help students beyond just helping them get good grades. It informs teachers if students have mental health concerns or other things going on in their life.
Since it started using Intellispark, Martinsburg High School has become one of the program’s highest users. The school wasn’t afraid of giving feedback to help improve the website and make it easier to use. As a result, Glover and Fream were invited to talk about how the program has helped the school.
“Often times, you don’t know if what you are doing is actually having an impact,” Glover said. “It was nice to see that what we are doing is exceptional. Other schools want to emulate us in how we are using the program, and it makes us proud.”
Glover and Fream talked alongside two other panelists from Aspen, Colorado. They shared how other schools can use the program and talked about what worked for them. Glover and Fream got feedback from other schools who want to start using Intellispark themselves.
“I enjoyed having the opportunity to share and just telling others how they can use it,” Fream said. “We’ve been there, done that. We were happy to share what made it easier for us so it might make it easier for them.”
“For me, I’m in this job to help kids,” Glover added. “And I don’t just mean academically. Having the opportunity to help a kid all the way in Ohio just by sharing more about this program is great. There are hard days, but to go to bed at night knowing that I helped others is what it’s all about.”
Intellispark is currently being used in middle school and high school throughout Berkeley County. Glover hopes to see the program grow throughout the county to help more students and teachers.