Powells Patch
Martinsburg, WV 25404

I began attending Jefferson High School in 2022 with hopes of growing academically, building friendships, and preparing for my future. Unfortunately, my experience was cut short in 2024 due to harassment, bullying, and institutional failure after I came forward about being sexually assaulted by a male student.When I bravely reported the assault to the principal, school staff, and the resource officer, I expected safety and support — but instead, I was met with silence and disbelief. No proper action was taken to address the situation or to ensure the safety of others. Instead of holding the perpetrator accountable or requiring him to get help, the school allowed him to remain on campus without consequence.After coming forward, I was harassed both in person and online — through Snapchat, Instagram, and even by strangers who called me a liar without knowing the full story. The emotional toll was devastating. I lost close friends and my support system, and the school made no effort to support my mental health or well-being during that time.In the end, I had no choice but to leave Jefferson High School and pursue my education through a GED program. While my time there ended painfully, my experience has only deepened my commitment to standing up for others who feel silenced. I know my truth, and I will continue to use my voice to advocate for those who deserve to be heard and protected.

It does not get any better. Great parent involvement, great inspiring teachers, and a great principal. All of the children are well behaved, love the school and are inspired to learn. Compared to other public schools, this school stands tall and I credit the learning environment to the entire staff at Shepherdstown elementary.

Schools in general have developed new ways in teaching children how to read, governed by state guidelines. Many of our teachers and schools have relied on computers to do their job in teaching a child to read. What ever happened to the old ways in teaching a child to read? Writing words on a blackboard. Teaching pronunciation by writing, not typing. A teacher sitting down with their students reading a book with them, pointing out the words as they read instead of handing them a book then sitting them in front of a computer to answer questions about it. Its truly sad that the old ways are forgotten by many. We wonder why our kids have problems with reading and comprehension. We've become lazy and rely to much on computers in doing the teaching. I rate this school a 6 of 10