The sprawling Irving Independent School District (ISD) serves approximately 31,400students across 37 campuses, and the diversity of its student population presents both unique opportunities and significant challenges. With more than90% of the student body belonging to a minority group and 45% of students learning English, the district must navigate complex language and cultural barriers to provide effective mental health support. This is no small feat fora district with only 60 full-time counselors, each serving an average of 514students.
To better support English learners (ELs) and emerging bilingual students who often struggle with aggression or dysregulation, Irving ISD piloted the use of Alongside in four middle schools during the 2022-2023 school year. The app was designed to help students manage their mental health and connect with counselors, particularly during times when in-person support is unavailable. Given the high caseloads during the school day, counselors found that their students also needed additional support after hours, and Alongside offered a solution.
A Game-Changer for Middle Schools
Based on the success of the pilot, Irving ISD expanded the use of Alongside to five middle schools in 2023-24 and hopes to extend its reach even further in the future. Data has shown that students who use the app spend more time in class and demonstrate better emotional regulation. Moreover, Alongside has become an integral part of the district's Tier 1 mental health support for all students.
Anabel Ibarra, a school principal in the district, described the app as a "gamechanger" for her school’s Response to Intervention (RTI) process. “It provides that Tier 1 support for students to talk to the llama, as we say, so that they can express what situations they’re going through, topics that they want to cover, that typically would end up affecting their mental health,” she explained. “But it’s that first level of support.”
Ibarra emphasized that Alongside acts as a "counselor in your pocket, "offering students clinically proven strategies for managing various challenges, from minor annoyances to significant home or school issues. “It’s all about working smarter, not harder,” she said, highlighting the importance of giving every student access to this level of support.
Breaking Down Barriers for English Learners
For English learners, accessing mental health support can be particularly challenging. Communication barriers often mean that students struggle to express themselves fully during counseling sessions, even with the help of a translator. With its ability to communicate with students in more than 30 languages in real-time, Alongside provides a platform for students to receive clinical-grade support in their native language, ensuring they are fully understood and can receive the help they need.
“The big thing is that it’s giving them an opportunity to vent, saying what’s on their minds without somebody judging them, or interrupting them, or trying to give them advice,” said Anne Lantey, a counselor at Irving ISD's Lady Bird Johnson Middle School. “It’s been especially helpful for my English language learners who usually need a translator when they come to counseling, and sometimes it may not necessarily flow, but this gives them an opportunity to just say what they need to say.”
This capability proved life-saving in one scenario when a newcomer English learner made a suicidal outcry through the app’s chat function. A student who had been struggling communicated her distress through Alongside, which triggered an alert to Lantey. “Later on that afternoon, she made a suicidal outcry. For me, I found so much value in that because throughout that conversation, she was able to fully express herself in a way that she had not been able to using the translation,” Lantey said. “But this gave her an opportunity to just say what she needed to say, and then I was able to step in and give her the additional help that she needed.”
Lantey emphasized the app’s value, particularly for students who might otherwise avoid seeking help due to language barriers. “It’s absolutely valuable for all students, but especially for students who may not necessarily want to come to the counseling office because they feel there’s a barrier, such as the language barrier,” she noted.
Alleviating the Burden on Counselors
For counselors who are often stretched thin, Alongside offers a way to manage caseloads more effectively by providing students with an alternative outlet for their concerns. This frees up counselors to focus on students in crisis while still ensuring that all students have access to support when they need it.
Kelli Frazer, a counselor in Irving ISD, noted how the app has been particularly helpful for shy or hesitant students. “Alongside helps the students at my school because it gives them an outlet, especially for kids who are kind of shy or hesitant to come to the counseling office. It gives them an outlet that they can use on their own, in private, at school or at home,” she said.
Frazer also highlighted how Alongside has helped her manage her workload. “It alleviates some of that day-to-day conversation that every student needs, but sometimes I’m not available to have, unfortunately, because I get busy with meetings and serious situations,” she explained. “But kids just need someone to talk to sometimes and let out their thoughts and emotions, and it’s really great for that.”
Identifying Students Suffering in Silence
The app’s ability to connect counselors with students who might otherwise fall through the cracks is another significant advantage. Rachel Chamberlain, another counselor in the district, shared a story about a student who was struggling in silence until he reached out through Alongside. The app’s alert system allowed Chamberlain to intervene before the situation escalated.
“It turned out to be a true crisis, and I was able to connect with his mom who also had concerns,” Chamberlain recalled. “There were some family circumstances going on, and he really needed the help. I don’t think he would’ve talked to a teacher or initiated coming to see me in my office, but he felt comfortable going into the app.”
The interaction not only allowed Chamberlain to provide the immediate support the student needed but also helped her build a lasting relationship with him. “Now, he is on my radar. I know who he is, I check in on him, and he was able to get the help and support that he needed,” she said.
Overcoming Barriers to Counseling
Sofia Lopez, the district's Director of At-Risk and Responsive Services, highlighted how the Alongside app has addressed significant barriers to accessing traditional counseling services. Many students face challenges such as lack of insurance or transportation, which can prevent them from attending therapy sessions.
“A lot of our students don't have insurance or don't have transportation because their parents are working full-time,” Lopez explained. “So they don't have the opportunity to go to a counselor for therapy sessions. Alongside has really helped those students who are in need of somebody to talk to, a professional person to talk to, to get support for their mental health.”
Lopez also praised the app’s 24/7 availability, which ensures that students have access to support whenever they need it. “This app is great because it’s available to our students 24/7,” she said. “We are really thankful to have partnered with Alongside because they are helping that population that does not have access toa counselor.”
The app has also improved how counselors interact with students. Instead of waiting for students to seek help in person, counselors can now proactively reach out based on students’ interactions with the app. “Counselors have noticed that instead of coming to them, students are reaching out to the app,” Lopez noted. “If they notice that students need further support based on their responses, they are able to reach out to them. Another thing the counselors have noticed is that students who would normally not come and talk to them, due to being too shy or not ready to talk to someone in person, are now reaching out to the app.”
A Lifesaver for Students and Counselors Alike
As Irving ISD continues to expand its use of Alongside, the app has proven to be a valuable tool for both students and counselors. It offers a way to bridge language barriers, provide after-hours support, and ensure that no student is left without the help they need. For counselors like Tracy Bennett, the app has been a "lifesaver" that helps her manage her workload and provides students with an essential outlet.
“Alongside has helped me as a counselor this year by freeing up more time for students who are in crisis, knowing that students on a Tier 1 level have somewhere to go, have someone to chat with, and have resources they can access, not only during the school day when I’m available but also in the evenings and on weekends when I am not available,” Bennett said. “It’s definitely been a lifesaver at our school.”
As the mental health needs of students continue to grow, tools like Alongside are becoming increasingly essential for schools looking to provide comprehensive support. For districts like Irving ISD, these tools not only help students manage their mental health but also enable counselors to do their jobs more effectively, ensuring that all students have access to the help they need when they need it most.
