Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center

Expanding Education to Meet the Workforce Needs of Tomorrow 

According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, over the next ten years, the labor market is projected to expand by 6 million new jobs. By 2032 one in four people will be aged 65 and older, leading to a large portion of the workforce exiting the labor market, creating opportunities for those starting out on their career pathways.

The Emil and Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center prepares Winchester students and community members for the in-demand, skilled workforce of tomorrow. The goal of the center is to ensure every student is prepared and empowered with marketable skills that lead to full-time, high-paying sustainable employment; and in doing so, every regional industry is fully supplied with dedicated, skilled workers who will strengthen and enhance their business model.

A joint venture with Laurel Ridge Community College and local industry partners, the Innovation Center trains and equips youth and adults to meet the demands of the regional job market while also preparing students for global opportunities. Using hands-on learning strategies, students develop the necessary skills leading to marketable certifications. Industry partners play an active role in the development of the program of study, while also committing to work-based learning opportunities for students.  Also,  Laurel Ridge Community College provides instructors and equipment for certification and credit-bearing courses. Incorporating these strategies, the Innovation Center has become a hub of workforce development for the community.

The instructional culture at the Innovation Center is interdisciplinary and organized into industry themes where Career & Technical Education (CTE) teachers, core literacy teachers, and students collaborate on authentic, real-world problems. All JHHS students have an opportunity to have an experience at the Innovation Center, and the center is open to help train adults in cooperation with Laurel Ridge Workforce.

Three academies are housed at the Innovation Center -- Advanced Technologies Academy, Professional Skills Academy, and Health Sciences Academy -- each offering programs designed to cultivate students with the skills and credentials needed for a career in their respective, chosen field. 

Core and CTE class offerings are based on availability and VDOE credit requirements. Core subjects will be taught using a blend of personalized learning and project-based learning to enhance academic performance. Students will design their criteria for success and negotiate their time and learning with teachers.