WV Healthy Schools in Action: Success Stories from Mercer County
The West Virginia Healthy Schools in Action Project is a statewide initiative led by West Virginia University's Center for Active WV through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends the school setting to serve as a driving force in promoting the development of health and wellness behaviors for students (CDC, 2023). Therefore, this initiative is designed to improve school health practices by implementing evidence-based approaches endorsed by the CDC, such as the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) and the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) frameworks.
You can find more information about West Virginia Healthy Schools in Action at the project website (linked here). You may also obtain badging credentials through the various free online professional development resources provided by the West Virginia Healthy Schools in Action team. These training modules cover topic areas such as the WSCC model, school health assessment, worksite wellness, as well as offering other helpful teaching tools and resources. These open-access, on-demand professional development and technical assistance opportunities can be found on the school resources landing page (linked here).
The West Virginia Healthy Schools in Action team partnered with Mercer County Schools as its Priority Local Education Agency (PLEA) to engage all 24 schools in the initiative. Each school appointed a wellness leader to serve as the wellness champion for their school and then recruited other staff and community members to form a wellness team aimed at aligning with the WSCC framework. Working alongside these school-based teams, WV Healthy Schools in Action has provided ongoing professional development, educational resources, and technical assistance to support schools in assessing their practices, creating action plans, and implementing healthy change. The following list provides a more detailed description of the steps taken in Mercer County Schools across the past two years. As highlighted later in this success story, the process piloted in Mercer County will be rolled out statewide during the 2025-2026 school year.
- Designated a School Wellness Team with a motivated leader
- Completed virtual learning modules about the CDC’s School Health Index (SHI)
- Completed the digital School Health Index (SHI) as a basis for planning
- Developed a School Health Action Plan (SHAP) based on the SHI findings
- Implemented SHAP with funding support and monitored related improvements
- Modified action plans, received additional funding, and implemented next steps
- Celebrated and shared successes to inspire others to work towards healthier schools
This initiative also emphasizes alignment with the Education sector of the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan (linked here), making Mercer County Schools an important contributor to broader state-wide health priorities. The following narrative highlights Mercer County schools' early successes.
Access to New Physical Activity Opportunities
Updated Equipment for Physical Education
Many schools noted having outdated equipment for physical activity, and thus, 16 schools chose to update their playground and/or physical education equipment with a portion of their funds. Some of this included repairing broken or rusted playground equipment at Bluefield Intermediate and Bluefield Middle, updating physical education curriculum to be more age-appropriate at Silver Springs Early Learning Center, and replacing damaged equipment at Spanishburg after their gymnasium flooded.
Many schools also purchased outdoor games for students to enjoy. For instance, Bluefield Primary purchased Jinga, soccer nets, ring toss, balance boards, and tic-tac-toe for outdoor play. Bluefield Middle also took students outside with Connect 4, Velcro mitt/ball passing sets, and cornhole boards. Bluefield Middle joined Montcalm High and Bluefield High in adding pickleball equipment to their inventory.
Indoor Physical Education equipment updates ranged from traditional sport-based equipment to novel activities like ping-pong tables (Montcalm High and Bluefield High), step aerobics (Mountain Valley), spike ball, bowling set, golf mats, and exercise and dance equipment (Bluefield High).
Curricular Innovations in Physical Education
Thinking outside of the 'pit', nine schools delegated funds toward the purchase of a Gaga Pit. If you're unfamiliar with this popular activity and piece of equipment, think of it as an enclosed area with walls that are generally in the shape of an octagon or hexagon. The pit serves as a field for students to play gaga ball, a game that mimics dodgeball but aims to hit opponents below the knees.
Montcalm High expressed excitement for the purchase by saying: "The Gaga Pit we purchased was the one the students seemed to enjoy the most. They played hard, laughed and had some serious competition." Straley Elementary also commented that Gaga Ball was a "HUGE hit, no pun intended!" Other schools adding a Gaga Pit to their facility were Athens Elementary, Melrose Elementary, Mercer Elementary, Pikeview Middle, Pikeview High, Princeton High, and Princeton Primary.
Run Club and Intramurals/Club Activities
Meanwhile, 12 schools chose to 'go the extra mile' by launching a run club opportunity for their school community: Athens Elementary, Bluewell Elementary, Brushfork Elementary, Lashmeet-Matoaka Elementary, Melrose Elementary, Mercer Elementary, Montcalm Elementary, Mountain Valley Elementary, Princeton Primary, Spanishburg Elementary, Straley Elementary, and Sun Valley Elementary. Many schools mentioned their gratitude for the West Virginia Healthy Schools in Action initiative, as their run club would not be possible otherwise.
Additional intramural/club activities were implemented at Bluewell Elementary, Pikeview Middle, and Princeton High. Bluewell Elementary mentions being "very fortunate to be able to form two pee-wee girls basketball teams this year through implementation of our School Health Action Plan. We had 17 girls sign up from 2nd to 5th grade." Through this opportunity, students were able to practice 3-5 days per week as well as participate in two games every weekend. Furthermore, Princeton High strategically used their Gaga pit and Black Light Nine Squares to provide games that would include everyone during intramurals and school-wide events.
Integration of School-Wide Physical Activity
It is important to recognize the value in utilizing physical activity to enhance academic achievement and social engagement. Three schools chose to use new equipment as a means for providing physical activity during the school day. Straley Elementary commented that "it's been a much-needed refresher for the students to have new things to engage in." They also discussed their strategy to boost excitement for testing through a special school-wide "Pre-Pit Power Up" Gaga game.
Similarly, Princeton Middle used their new equipment to provide test incentives and encourage positive behaviors and began integrating more movement opportunities into the lunch hour. The teachers commented that "it gives them [students] more to do besides stand around and create drama." Bluefield High enhanced connectedness between students and staff by hosting school-wide walking challenges with their purchased pedometers.
Improved Employee Wellness Programs
Practicing Self-Care
Employee wellness, a valuable yet often overlooked area of school wellness, was addressed head-on by Mercer County schools within the last year. Implementation efforts did not disappoint, as many schools developed original plans and ideas to promote employee health and well-being.
Notably, three schools began providing self-care opportunities for school staff through offering regular yoga classes at Bluefield Primary; massages, healthy staff treats, and staff journaling at Brushfork Elementary; and supplying coworker appreciation cards, fun items for teachers during testing, and daily health and well-being tips at Montcalm High.
Wellness Rooms
Pikeview Middle displayed their motivation in building a new wellness space for their school by stating, "We recognize the need to re-energize after and perhaps during a long, stressful day. It would be ideal to take a few moments each day to re-center and relax." As such, they purchased massage chairs as well as calming room lighting to help alleviate stress and anxiety. They also mention the use of this space to provide a calming and relaxing effect for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
Montcalm High acknowledged the value in providing a space for employees to recharge. They describe their experience as follows: "We began the long journey to creating a space for teachers to enjoy lunch, take a mental health break, or just have a moment to catch their breath on a stressful day. We purchased items including massage covers for chairs, diffusers, a divider to separate space, and lighting for the area."
Similarly, Oakvale Elementary transformed an entire room for their staff to focus on employee wellness. They provided a massage chair with lighting and an area with a coffee and tea station to exchange healthy recipes. Other re-purposing of physical space included Princeton Primary's staff wellness room furnished with chairs, lighting, music, a full body massager, as well as neck and foot massagers. They also created space for two small walking pads that teachers could use for activity breaks throughout the day. Further, while Pikeview High already houses a staff lounge, they opted to improve the space by introducing a massage chair and a sound machine for teachers to utilize.
Staff Wellness Events and Challenges
Expanding on the staff wellness rooms, Montcalm Elementary and Montcalm High introduced new staff challenges while Glenwood Elementary and Pikeview High integrated new wellness routines and events into their busy schedules. The staff challenges at Montcalm Elementary and High included wellness incentives to encourage healthy water intake and nutrition but also provided teachers with pedometers to count their steps.
Glenwood Elementary embarked on the challenge to provide new wellness routines to staff in the form of "Monday Morale" and "Tea Tuesday." With this, local businesses provided free items in the form of sweepstakes, giveaways, and healthy teas for staff to boost morale and emotional wellness. Meanwhile, Pikeview High leaned on their annual "Panther Day" to provide healthy smoothies for staff as well as a veggie and fruit chop competition for both staff and students.
Enhanced Physical Environment, Health Education, and Social and Emotional Climate
School wellness was further enhanced through addressing other key areas such as the physical environment, health education, and the social and emotional climate. Glenwood Elementary and Sun Valley Elementary strengthened their physical environment through the installation of new water stations for students and staff. Glenwood Elementary additionally updated their first-aid kits in the gymnasium. Health education was addressed at two schools, Lashmeet-Matoaka and Straley Elementary, with the purchase of the Quaver Education Curriculum. Lashmeet-Matoaka states this was a "game changer in how they are able to teach WV Health/PE standards." Last but not least, schools attended to the social and emotional climate by providing counselors with yoga activity blocks for anger and behavior management at Princeton Primary as well as purchasing stress balls and mental health posters at Bluefield High.
School Reflections on Overall Impact
"School attendance for those who participated in the basketball league was positively affected since practices were held directly after school. Students that participated increased their confidence and abilities to play basketball along with the increased physical activity for their daily and weekly recommended time. This also helped to increase support for the school and team as parents in the community banded together to donate and assist with the schools basketball team and the players." - Bluewell Elementary School
"For almost 20 years, we have operated our physical education department with a hodge podge of materials and supplies. We have never been able to afford new materials, and we also never had a set curriculum for teaching PE in a Pre-K setting. The School Health Action Plan has enabled us to purchase Pre-K appropriate PE materials and a Pre-K curriculum. These materials have enabled our PE teacher and our Pre-K teachers the ability to instruct our children more efficiently and productively. The money we received from this program has allowed our PE program to be more than just an afterthought. Our entire staff is extremely appreciative of this grant and our newfound ability to teach children to be more active." - Silver Springs Early Learning Center
"Quaver immediately stood out for its fun, interactive approach to learning. The students were drawn to its animated characters, catchy songs, and hands-on-activities. What made it even better was how seamlessly it aligned with West Virginia state standards. From nutrition and safety to emotional well-being and physical activity, Quaver provided lessons that were both engaging and educational, giving our students a well-rounded foundation in health. Before Quaver, our PE program focused mainly on movement and fitness, with limited resources for teaching comprehensive health education. Quaver filled that gap perfectly. It gave our teachers the tools to introduce topics like mental health, personal hygiene, and healthy decision-making in a way that made sense for each age group. The interactive lessons sparked great classroom conversations and helped students connect the dots between what they learn and how they live." - Lashmeet/Matoaka Elementary School
"We were able to order equipment that would allow students new activities, especially during their lunch breaks. The teachers say that 'it gives them more to do besides stand around and create drama.' We were able to obtain two big games, Nine Square in the Air and Gaga Ball pit. Both have been a success indoors and outdoors. We've used them for positive behaviors and test incentive days . It was super fun to see them all lined up for their turn into the square and cheer on those that are normally 'left out.' Gaga Ball Pit had several students that aren't normally heard stand out because they were able to use leadership skills and teach the others that didn't know the rules of the game. It's been a great tool to teach alliance, accountability, and dexterity that many don't see themselves in that role often." - Princeton Middle School
Learn More About School Health Assessment and Planning Efforts in Mercer County
At Princeton Primary, the dedication to fostering a healthier school environment is evident through the proactive efforts of the Wellness Team, led by School Nurse Tonya Osborne. By leveraging the School Health Index (SHI), the team has made significant strides in assessing and enhancing the well-being of students, staff, and the greater school community. “The SHI enabled our School Wellness Council to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and helped us develop avenues to build on our strengths and begin correcting our weaknesses,” shared Osborne.
The SHI served as a valuable tool in identifying critical areas for improvement. For instance, the assessment revealed the need for greater family and community involvement. This realization spurred the team to explore creative ways to strengthen community partnerships and host activities that actively engage families in the school’s wellness initiatives.
Additionally, the SHI highlighted a significant gap in employee health and wellness programs. With this insight, the team prioritized developing and implementing targeted programs and activities aimed at improving staff well-being—a vital component of creating a thriving school environment. By embracing the SHI, Princeton Primary School has turned evaluation into action, paving the way for a more inclusive, supportive, and healthier school culture. This notable success in school health assessment and planning was shared district-wide:
Unified Approach
All schools embraced the digital School Health Index (SHI) to ensure consistency in school health assessments across Mercer County.
Evidence-based
From a mere 12.5% to a perfect 100% rate of completion, Mercer County Schools earned an outstanding 700% increase in school health assessments.
Growth Focused
Mercer County Schools transitioned from 14 out of 24 to a flawless 24 out of 24 in fully developed school health action plans, representing 71.5% growth.
Ripple Effects: Statewide Scaling of Best Practice in School Health Assessment
Based on the evidence-informed recommendations for school health assessment and planning used in Mercer County, efforts are being scaled statewide to better support other districts and schools looking to change their health-related policies, systems, and environments (linked here). Let's make success stories like Bluefield High School the norm in West Virginia schools and communities — click on the arrows below to learn more!
At Bluefield High School
Students are stepping up to a healthier future with the help of pedometers. Thanks to WV Healthy Schools in Action grant, Bluefield’s Physical Education program has received a set of pedometers that are already making a difference in student engagement, activity levels, and overall wellness.
PE Program Impact
The PE teachers at Bluefield wanted to find an effective way to encourage students to stay active throughout the day, not just during PE class. With the pedometers, students now have a clear, visual way to track their steps and understand how small daily choices contribute to their health goals.
Student Engagement
The devices have sparked a competitive and collaborative spirit, with students challenging each other to reach the recommended 10,000 steps daily. Mr. Reddmond shares, “Before we introduced the pedometers, we noticed some students were hesitant to engage in certain activities. Now, they’re excited to see their steps adding up."
Impact on Students
One freshman commented, “I didn’t realize how many steps I take just by moving around between classes. Now, I try to take extra steps whenever I can and beat the day before. It’s fun to see my progress!”
After-School Walking Program
As part of the initiative, Bluefield High is working on launching an after-school walking program for their staff. The WV Healthy Schools in Action grant has had a ripple effect, enhanced not only students’ health but also fostering a supportive environment where activity and fitness are celebrated.
Community Impact
The Bluefield High School community is proud of the positive changes they see in their students, and they’re excited to continue this journey toward healthier lives, one step at a time.
Special Shoutout to Our School Wellness Team Leaders – Thank You!
1
Lindsey Nash
Athens Elementary
2
Erica Blankenship
Bluefield Intermediate
3
Amy Rickman
Bluefield Primary
4
Robert Green
Bluewell Elementary
5
Emily Smith
Brushfork Elementary
6
Jessica Bryant
Glenwood Elementary
7
Leeann Taylor
Lashmeet/Matoaka EL
8
Edie Bennett
Melrose Elementary
9
Maria Webster
Montcalm Elementary
10
Jenni Connors
Mountain Valley EL
11
Tonya Osborne
Princeton Primary
12
Steve Hayes
Silver Springs Pre-K
13
Will Harmon
Spainishburg EL
14
Jenny Lilly
Straley Elementary
15
Lindsey Nash
Sun Valley Elementary
16
Candy Fulp
Bluefield Middle
17
Tammy Six
Pikeview Middle
18
Jenny Lilly
Princeton Middle
19
Jimmy Redmond
Bluefield High School
20
Maria Webster
Montcalm High School
21
Tonya Osborne
Princeton High School
22
Holly Woods Christine Lee
Pikeview High School
23
Kendra Mullins Lacosta Hodges
Oakvale Elementary
24
Jeanneine Jones Shellie Simpson
Mercer Elementary
This project was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number NU58DP007308 funded by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors (or WVU) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.