JMU celebrates inaugural Lab School class 

JMU President Charlie King joined College of Education faculty and the commonwealth’s education leaders to celebrate the inaugural Broadway High School and East Rockingham High School ninth grade JMU Lab School for Innovation and Career Exploration class with a special event held at Festival Conference and Student Center’s Grand Ballroom. 

The lab school is a partnership with Blue Ridge Community College and Rockingham County Public Schools and is designed to cultivate innovation and provide career exposure. Through interdisciplinary problem-solving, the lab school offers students real-world experiences, dual-enrollment options, and pathways aligned with regional employment needs, ensuring college and career readiness.  

Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera spoke at the event about the innovation that happens in lab school environments and praised the lab school’s efforts to solve problems in new ways. 

“What you all embody is what we want in lab schools: innovation, personalization and breaking down walls between schools and employers – that's what an education should be about,” Guidera said.  

Dr. Donica Hadley, executive director of the lab school, addressed lab school faculty and students at the celebration and praised the lab school’s partnerships, relationships and innovations.  

“Partnerships are at the heart of what we do here,” said Hadley. “When we work together, our students reap the benefits in ways that would be unimaginable otherwise.”  

“This collaborative spirit strengthens our community and transforms challenges into opportunities, and our JMU Lab School is the tangible and observable result of this collaborative spirit,” added Hadley.  

As the event concluded, Hadley offered some final praise for the students in attendance: “This is what celebrating learning looks like; today, we celebrate you,” said Hadley.