Portsmouth, VA — June 2025 At this year’s Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP) Conference, the Old Dominion University Center for Educational Innovation & Opportunity (CEIO) delivered a clear message: Virginia’s lab schools are more than an idea—they are a movement reshaping the future of education across the Commonwealth.
Dr. Gary Skeen, Associate Director of CEIO, and Kaitlyn McCoy, CEIO Program Manager, co-presented the session “Leading the 3E Framework,” highlighting how lab schools are helping lead the implementation of Virginia’s new readiness model—preparing students for Enrollment, Enlistment, and Employment. Their session emphasized the urgency of aligning K–12 learning experiences with real-world outcomes, starting early and building consistently through graduation.
Dr. Gary Skeen & Kaitlyn McCoy present on learning using the new 3E accountability Framework in Virginia
“Our lab schools are rethinking what public education can be when we connect students to career pathways and workforce needs in a meaningful way,” said Dr. Skeen. “This work isn’t about adding more to educators’ plates—it’s about helping them build systems where relevance, engagement, and opportunity are part of everyday instruction.”
The conference also featured a strong showing from the SmithTech team—the Computer Science Lab School at Oscar Smith Middle School in Chesapeake. Representing the school were Dr. Helen Sapieka and Ms. Sarah Noffsinger, who led a session focused on the school’s commitment to expanding access to computer science and digital learning for all students.
Dr. Sapieka & Ms Noffsinger provided an engaging and hands on session in computer science integration
From computer science and STEM education to career-connected project-based learning, the ODU Lab School Network continues to lead the way in creating models of what education can look like when it is grounded in place, purpose, and the future of work.
With four lead lab schools and five additional partnerships across the state, CEIO is building a statewide ecosystem of innovation—linking K–12, higher education, and industry to deliver learning experiences that are both academically rigorous and economically relevant.
“Lab schools aren’t just another initiative—they’re a statewide strategy to transform education from the ground up,” said Skeen. “We’re proud to work alongside educators and partners across the Commonwealth to build the next generation of schools—and the next generation of leaders.”
As Virginia continues to emerge as a national leader in education innovation, CEIO’s work underscores what’s possible when public schools, universities, and industry move forward together—with a shared vision and a sense of urgency.
