OptimALL Revolutionizes Student Support at Cardinal Pacelli School
- development522
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
At Cardinal Pacelli School in Cincinnati, Ohio, OptimALL is reshaping educational experience for students who need extra educational support.
In a recent interview, Principal Jennifer Martin shared how in the last few years, OptimALL has become a cornerstone of the school’s commitment to inclusive education by fostering happier students, empowered teachers, and a stronger community.
OptimALL has created a structured intervention program at Cardinal Pacelli that is designed to address academic and behavioral challenges.
“Teachers fill out a cause for concern,” Martin said. “And if we feel a child needs to be tested, they’re tested, and then we recommend them for OptimALL if they need services.”
At Cardinal Pacelli, OptimALL offers tailored support that includes speech therapy, small-group instruction, and in-class assistance for students with diverse needs, like autism or ADHD. Martin believes the impact on Cardinal Pacelli’s school environment has been profound. She says it has enriched the educational offerings at the school.
“The kids are happier because they’re getting the help they need, and the teachers are happier because they’re reteaching some concepts and helping out in the classroom,” Martin said. She recounted a particularly striking success story: a primary school student whose academic and behavioral struggles diminished after OptimALL provided push-in support in his classes. “His behavior was eliminated because he wasn’t so frustrated, and he understood the material.”
This level of intervention marks a significant shift from the educational landscape Martin encountered early in her career.
“When I began teaching 18 years ago, we didn’t have intervention specialists or anything like that to help students who were struggling,” she said. “Parents would have to get outside tutoring after school.”
Martin pointed out that OptimALL changes the reality for families by embedding support within the school day, aligning interventions with the curriculum, and reducing the burden on families. She also said parents at Cardinal Pacelli quickly embraced the program.
“The parents are very happy with OptimALL here,” Martin said. “I’ve never heard one complaint. It’s just how much they appreciate their children getting helped.”
This enthusiasm extends beyond Cardinal Pacelli. When a neighboring school considered adopting OptimALL, Martin was unequivocal in her endorsement.
“I’m like, ‘You’re gonna love it,’ because the parents love it, the kids love it, the teachers love it. The kids get the extra help they need, and everybody’s happy. Everyone wins,” she said.
For schools without such a program, Martin’s message is clear. To her, OptimALL is a game-changer.
“It can be a little bit of a challenge to introduce this kind of thing,” she said, noting that private and religious schools historically lacked such options. Yet, the benefits—improved student outcomes, teacher satisfaction, and parental trust—make it a worthwhile investment.
Cardinal Pacelli’s experience with OptimALL underscores the power of targeted, in-school support to unlock every student’s potential. As Martin put it, “The kids get the extra help they need, and everybody’s happy.”
For educators and administrators looking to build more inclusive schools, OptimALL offers a proven model for success, and now provides direct services to more than 200 students in religious schools across Ohio.
Learn more about Cardinal Pacelli School’s innovative programs at their website or follow their journey on social media. For more information on OptimALL Services, click here.