“Love the Apple Store’s Genius Bar? Then you'll also love iSITE,” says Philadelphia magazine, who featured the group in their September 2009 issue, recognizing them as “The Best of Philly.”

Springside’s student tech leader group iSITE (interactive Springside Innovative Technology Education) has quickly become a national model and has recently received many impressive accolades including:

• The National Coalition of Girl's Schools' "Whitty Ransom Prize," an award of $1,000 to a recipient who "reflects the pure devotion to a higher cause, the willingness to serve others, the grace and readiness to make others look good." (2010)
• A feature on a KYW News Radio on-air segment with education reporter Dr. Marciene Mattleman (2010)
• Philadelphia magazine’s “Best of Philly” under the category of “Student Techies.” (2009) 
• The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools prize for “New Media.” (2009) 
• Being selected to presenting at the June 2009 National Educational Computing Conference in Washington, DC to share their model for providing technology support and training for the Springside community.

Any rising 9th through 12th grade Springside student who is interested in being a part of iSITE may apply to be part of the program. ISITE students attend meetings throughout the year to work on projects, learn new programs, and learn how best to help faculty and students. Each iSITE student receives a personal MacBook to use for the school year.

Middle School students can also join iSITE jr., a program that follows the model of iSITE, but at the Middle School Level. 

Project highlights from our second year of the iSITE Program include:

• Planning and hosting iHelp, a night where members of the community could come in for one-to-one tech help and come in to try some of the newest technological gadgets available. Proceeds of iHelp supported the One Laptop Per Child organization.
• Designing a website for a girls' school in Kibera, Africa.
• Creating a listening library of storybook podcasts for Lower School students
• Working with faculty on classroom projects
• Teaching faculty and peers about software programs including Photoshop and iWeb
• Leading professional development workshops
• Hosting a student and faculty film festival

Email the Springside Genius Bar: iSITE