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WVU School of Social Work
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Play Higher Pioneers

Do you teach, counsel, or provide programming to middle or high school students? Learn how to become a Play Higher Pioneer to get free games to enhance curriculum for your school or program!

Play Higher Pioneers - Wave  1

Play Higher Pioneers are K-12 teachers, school social workers, school counselors, and other school personnel who are "pioneering" the Play Higher game experience in their classroom and/or school. In spring 2025, 15 applicants throughout West Virginia were selected as "wave 1" Play Higher Pioneers and were awarded a free Meta Quest virtual reality headset pre-loaded with the Play Higher game " Social Work Simulation" and several other relevant applications. Those wave 1 awardees will deliver the Play Higher game experience to their students starting in August 2025. Approximately 750 students will be reached each academic year until 2028. For those selected Play Higher Pioneers in wave 1, there were zoom-based and self-paced training modules to learn about how to use virtual reality for career and behavioral health education (see below for details and links).

Wave 1 Sites and Awardees

  • Wood County Christian College and Career Readiness (Williamstown, WV): Naddine Border, Teacher
  • Beckley Center School (Beckley, WV): Christine Buckland, School Counselor
  • Weir High School (Weirton, WV): Natalie Charlton, School Counselor
  • Clay-Battelle Middle/High School (Blacksville, WV): Christina Conn, School Counselor
  • Sherrard Middle School (Wheeling, WV): Jenna Dompa, School Counselor
  • Point Pleasant Jr Sr High School (Point Pleasant, WV): Kara Fetty, Teacher
  • Horace Mann Middle School (Charleston, WV): Jennifer Health, Teacher
  • Buffalo Middle School (Kenova, WV): Lauren Hensley, School Counselor
  • Summers County Comprehensive High School (Hinton, WV): Samantha Jones, Social Worker / GEAR UP Coordinator
  • Lewis County High School (Weston, WV): Christana Lybarger, Dual Enrollment Facilitator
  • Fred W. Eberle Technical Center, Therapeutic Services (Buckhannon, WV): Rachel Poling, Teacher
  • West Preston School (Arthurdale, WV): Amanda Rhodes, Assistant Principal
  • Ravenswood Middle School (Ravenswood, WV): Sara Schoolcraft, Teacher
  • Musselman High School - Counseling Department (Inwood, WV): Amber Smith, School Counselor
  • Pleasants County Middle School (Belmont, WV): Jennifer VanZile, School Counselor

Play Higher Pioneers - Wave 2

In "wave 2", you can join our Play Higher Pioneers Network! Sign-up is continuously open to any interested applicants who wish to bring the game to their setting and already have (or can purchase) a Meta Quest headset. Wave 2 Pioneers will receive the Play Higher game, a list of other relevant apps, and technical assistance for the Play Higher game.

Sign-up for wave 2 Play Higher Pioneers Network

Webinars and Training

For those selected Play Higher Pioneers in wave 1, there were zoom-based and self-paced training modules to learn about how to use virtual reality for career and behavioral health education.

Webinar Recordings

Research & Surveys

Students will complete a pre-post survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the game. View the student survey here. Parents permission form is available here. WVU IRB approval is on file.