It’s not every aspiring filmmaker who gets to make documentaries or tell stories through publishing and more while they’re still in high school. But that’s exactly what happened to Daiyu Cosmey. She had long dreamed of studying filmmaking but thought she wouldn’t get the chance until college – and only then if she were fortunate enough to be accepted into a popular program with tons of applicants, few of whom are accepted.
But when Cosmey arrived at Jordan High School a few years ago, she happily discovered the Jordan Innovation Lab, where students can study documentary filmmaking, book publishing, podcasting, scriptwriting, newswriting, and more in the field of communications. The discovery proved to be the launching pad for realizing her lifelong dream.
“If I hadn’t been in the Jordan Innovation Lab, I don’t know if I would have had the inspiration to apply to Howard,” said Cosmey, who started as a freshman this semester in the Film and Television Production program at the university. “It really showed me what I was capable of in my field of passion, and it taught me a lot about being able to be a leader.”
FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION
The Innovation Lab is the brainchild of Stuart Albright, who has taught English and creative writing at Jordan for 24 years, has a master’s degree from Harvard University, and is the author of nine books. He got the idea when students began returning to school after the COVID-19 pandemic forced virtual learning.
“I was trying to figure out what we could do to make our lives’ vocations feel more meaningful,” Albright said. “Storytelling has always been something that’s been very important to me, and I wanted to find a way to spotlight all the amazing things our teachers, faculty, and students are doing.”
In just three years, the program has grown from 35 to 135 students. To date, they have produced more than 300 videos and close to 100 podcasts, as well as published numerous books.
Albright grants his students flexibility and autonomy in bringing their projects to life. The video and podcast productions include documentaries, teacher profiles, news, sports, and even game shows.
Last year, a group of students decided to produce a documentary about Stagville Plantation, where nearly 1,000 enslaved people were held from the late 1700s through the end of the Civil War.
“This was really moving for my students. They ran the show; they made all the decisions about how they wanted to film it, and I was there to support them,” Albright said. “There’s a number of descendants from Stagville who go to Jordan whom I’ve taught through the years. It’s something powerful because it’s the story of a place that a lot of people don’t know about, and they should.”
SEEING THEIR WORK ON THE BIG SCREEN
Innovation Lab students now also have the opportunity to see their work on the big screen. In April 2025, Albright and Jordan art teacher Ann Thaden partnered with The Carolina Theatre to create the first annual Running Bull Film Festival.
Students spent the day at the theater and got to meet with professionals in the industry. Then, 19 Innovation Lab films were shown to the students, their families, and the community.
“They had a free showing where they got to see their work on a gigantic screen in this beautiful, historic building,” said Albright, who added that the Running Bull Film Festival will be happening again in April 2026.
Cosmey served as a teacher assistant to Albright during her senior year and was involved with the festival’s inception and launch. She helped with marketing the event.
“We focused on the students to get them excited about it,” Cosmey said. “We wanted to make them wonder, ‘What is this, and how can we be involved?’”
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
The future looks very bright for Albright’s students – and for the Innovation Lab.
Students are graduating from the program with proficiency in Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition, which are very desirable skills for businesses looking to hire creative professionals. Most importantly, students are pursuing their next adventures with solid communication and technical skills – and more confidence.
“The thing I would say is that post-COVID, I noticed that many kids had forgotten the soft skill of being able to listen and communicate with their classmates,” Albright said. “Now, they have learned to reclaim the ability to see somebody for who they are. They learn how to ask interview questions, learn the stories of their classmates.”
Albright’s dream is to see the Innovation Lab replicated in other high schools in Durham. With his leadership and the way he inspires his students and colleagues, anything seems possible.
“A teacher like Mr. Albright, who would constantly tell me there was nothing I couldn’t do … he was the teacher to motivate you and to keep going,” Cosmey said.
For more stories like this one, read the latest issue of the SPARK Insider magazine.