Films

For decades, the American education system has subscribed to the “college-for-all” ideology, prioritizing four-year degrees while often overlooking the value of vocational training and career-based learning. Emil Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center, a pioneering vocational school in Winchester, Virginia, flips this script by offering a bold, integrated approach that treats career-based learning and traditional academics as equally essential paths to success.

In this inspiring documentary, Superintendent Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, along with the school’s students and faculty, give a firsthand look at how hands-on, real-world experience–centered learning models can prepare young people for both college and professional careers, and the transformative impact that rethinking education can have on students, their communities, and the local economy.

Discussion with director Charles Haine and executive producer Ted Dintersmith

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This film will be presented with Open Captions visible on screen. For more information, visit VAFF Accessibility.