As we begin our third year of the JMU Lab School, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for all that has been accomplished—and even more excited for what lies ahead. Over the past two years, our teachers and students have built strong relationships, deepened content knowledge, strengthened collective efficacy, and created a learning environment that challenges students to grow both academically and personally. Each day, students engage with highly effective content-area educators in authentic, interdisciplinary learning experiences designed to align with state standards while making meaningful connections across disciplines and to the world beyond the classroom.

Our students continue to rise to the high expectations set by their teachers. They are learning not only academic content, but also how to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, take ownership of their learning, and lean on one another—skills that will serve them well in college, careers, and life beyond K–12 education. Their growth reflects the incredible commitment of our educators, families, community partners, and Lab School support staff.

I cannot say enough about the positive energy and collective commitment that continue to define our Lab School community. A deep belief in public education, a passion for learning, and a commitment to ensuring that all students have opportunities to achieve and thrive are at the center of our work. We see this in the relationships being built among students, faculty, families, and community partners. Our students take pride in welcoming visitors into their learning spaces, expressing gratitude to community members who enhance their experiences, and supporting one another as they work collaboratively each day.

What began with Broadway High School and East Rockingham High School in Year 1 continued to grow in Year 2 with the addition of Spotswood High School and Turner Ashby High School. Now, as we begin Year 3, we are celebrating another exciting milestone: the JMU Lab School has expanded onto the James Madison University campus. We have welcomed our inaugural cohort of 11th-grade students into the Lab School Learning Lab in Memorial Hall, creating new opportunities for students to engage with JMU faculty, Blue Ridge Community College, community partners, and one another as they connect their high school experience to college, careers, and their future pathways. As we begin Year 3, I look forward to witnessing the continued learning, achievement, creativity, and growth of our students and educators. The Lab School is not simply a place—it is a community of learners committed to reimagining what secondary education can be and what is possible when schools, higher education, families, and communities work together toward a shared vision.

It truly “takes a village,” and it is my honor to be part of this incredible learning initiative. I am deeply grateful to everyone who continues to believe in our students, invest in our educators, and help us imagine—and create—what student-centered, innovative, and forward-thinking learning can look like in our secondary schools.

Donica O. Hadley, Ph.D.
jmulabschool@jmu.edu
540.568.8753
JMU Lab School Executive Director