We’re incredibly excited to see Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman” and Brie Larson in “Captain Marvel,” but as high school principal Vonda Viland proves, you don’t have to be a superhero to serve as an inspiration and change the world. Viland is at the center of “The Bad Kids,” an award-winning documentary filmed at Black Rock Continuation High School, an alternative school in an impoverished Mojave Desert community.
As the film’s official synopsis details, students enrolled at the California school have “fallen so far behind in credits that they have no hope of earning a diploma at a traditional high school. Black Rock is their last chance.” And Viland, the principal of Black Rock, is determined to help them make it count.
Directed by Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe, “The Bad Kids” made its World Premiere at Sundance 2016, where the took home the Special Jury Award for Verité Filmmaking.
Women and Hollywood spoke with Viland about why she allowed the filmmakers to come into the school, how Oprah changed her life, and why Sundance was one of the best experiences she’s ever had.
“The Bad Kids” opens in LA today, December 16, and in New York December 23.
W&H: Who decided to let the filmmakers shoot at the school?
VV: Three years ago I got a phone call from the Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Turner, saying that she was going to bring some filmmakers by the school. Initially that didn’t sit real well with me.
When Keith and Lou came out I did what all good administrators do: I delegated their visit to our students. One of our students, Devron, took them around and introduced them to all of the students who went here. As they were doing that, Devron told the student’s story, “This is Sally. Sally had it really rough at home but she’s now staying with a friend,” [that sort of thing].
He went around and introduced them to all of the students. After that, Chevron [introduced himself by saying], “By the way, I’m Chevron and I just got out of juvenile hall for attempted murder.” I was pretty sure that I was never going to see them again afterwards, and thought, “Yeah, that took care of that, didn’t it?”
But about a week later I got a phone call from them. They said they couldn’t get the school out of their minds and the kids’ stories were resonating with them. They were wondering if they could come for two weeks to test the waters to see if the kids would open up to them.
I really quite honestly laughed at them at the time, because our kids will tell you [anything]. If you ask them, they’ll tell you. I was like, “They’ll tell you whatever you want if you ask.”
At that point I called the Superintendent and asked her if it was something that she wanted me to pursue, and she said yes. The rest is history. They came for two weeks and fell in love with the kids. They ended up staying for two- and-a-half years.
W&H: It sounds like you were initially a bit leery of them coming in?
VV: I was. I didn’t know them. I didn’t know who they were, or what their background was. Of course I was overprotective of my kids — I was worried that they’d be exploited.
W&H: How did the directors assuage your fears?
VV: First of all, Lou and Keith are some of the most incredible men with the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve met. When they were here they would ask questions that were very caring. It was apparent that they wanted to help the kids. Quite honestly, [what convinced me of their intentions] was not only their demeanor with the kids … and the things that they talked about, but [a particular situation.]
One day unfortunately we had a fight between two girls. Lou and Keith disappeared. They could have been there filming and trying to make it a big thing. Afterwards I asked them about it, and said that I had been fearful [they would be capturing it]. They said “Look, we’re not here to exploit kids and their issues. We’re here to tell their stories.” That really increased my level trust with them.
W&H: Amazing. What better proof is there of their intentions than that?
VV: Exactly. In addition to that, they gave me the final [say in terms of what footage was included in the documentary]. I got to sit with them before they put the movie out and say if I was comfortable with it. Believe it or not, the first time I watched it there was nothing I said I was uncomfortable about. That speaks volumes.
W&H: What was it like to see the film for the first time?
VV: Frightening. Lou and Keith were so great about it. I got to bring my husband with me and then they left the two of us alone to watch it. The first time you watch something where you’re on film you’re horrified just to see yourself on film. You’re not looking at the beauty of the entire project and what [the filmmakers are]saying. Initially you’re like, “Did I really say that? Did I really look that way?” and then you step back and you say, “Wow. They are really telling our kids’ stories.”
W&H: Have you watched it with an audience?
VV: Yes. Several. I’ve had several surreal, amazing experiences. Our whole staff was allowed to go to Sundance. It was fabulous. The teachers hadn’t seen it at that point in time. It was there first time seeing it at the premiere at Sundance. There were standing ovations which brought all of us to tears.
The most special moment I think I’ve ever had in my entire life is that I got to have my mom with me at the premiere at Sundance. Not many people get to take their moms to work with them. It was really nice for me to be able to take my mom to work and show her what a day in my life is like.
W&H: What was the most challenging part of being filmed?
VV: My sly comment is “having a microphone in my boobs for two and a half years.”
Really, for me, the filming wasn’t challenging. We forgot they were here. They blended into the walls. They were here for so long. After two-and-a-half years you kind of forget that someone is there. It really wasn’t challenging in any shape or form. And the kids really took to them as well.
W&H: When and why did you start working in education?
VV: This is my 30th year in education. I was able to accelerate my program in college and I started working rather young. I started as a substitute teacher when I was 19 and became a teacher when I was 20. I wasn’t planning on being an educator but in college a professor pulled me aside and said, “What are you doing? You’re a natural teacher. You should be in education.” I was like, “Oh, okay. I’ll try it.”
W&H: You’re shown in the documentary telling a student that she’s expelled. You tell her parents, “I was your daughter.” What were you like as a teen?
VV: A little bit obstinate and outspoken. Strong-willed.
W&H: Do you think that’s why you work so well with kids that are like that? Because you can relate to them?
VV: Absolutely. I didn’t like being told what to do or how to do something, so I definitely relate to the kids on that.
W&H: In your daily life you’re shown as incredibly empathetic but also strong. Do you have a guiding philosophy as a leader and educator?
VV: I have a philosophy of life that I tell to the kids and the teachers every day: “Choose to have a good day.” I tell them, excuse my language, “Shit is going to happen in your life. You’re going to choose how you react to it. You’re going to be successful and conquer all those things or you’re going to be a victim. So you’ve got to choose what your day is going to be like.”
W&H: Do you have advice for other women in leadership positions in particular?
VV: I would say for me, in my career, I’ve always just followed my heart. I’ve spoken my mind and followed my heart and it’s gotten me where I needed to go.
W&H: Who are some of your role models?
VV: My very first principal was an amazing, amazing woman. She taught me the power of positive. Even though I was young coming in, she had faith in me, and she believed that I could accomplish anything. She really motivated me to speak my mind and to do what is right for kids no matter what the consequences are.
Of course my mother is an amazing woman, too.
A long time ago, when Oprah Winfrey first started her very first magazine, I was at a turning point in my life. I was the principal at a traditional high school. I was not really happy because I was in my office doing paper work and in meetings.
I just wasn’t happy because I didn’t have the connection with the kids. That magazine came out and I was on vacation. I sat and read it and the next day I called and asked for a position back in the classroom. That magazine changed my life.
W&H: Wow, that’s remarkable.
VV: It is. Oprah spoke to the importance of us filling our own cup before we can give to other people. If you follow your heart and do what’s right for yourself it will turn out right in the big scheme of life. I realized I wasn’t following my heart [because] I wasn’t with kids anymore.
W&H: To go from a positive note to a negative one, what’s the worst advice you’ve been given?
VV: “Sit down and shut up.” I say stand up and speak out.
W&H: That bad advice is all too common, and not just with women but with kids.
VV: Yes it is. That’s what made me think of it. That’s the kind of kid I was — the kid and teenager who was told to sit and shut up. And I was like, “No. That doesn’t get me anywhere.”
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they leave the theater?
VV: I want them to think that we have a great untapped resource in these kids. Society often wants to write them off. They have amazing spirits. They’re the most resilient people.
If we give them the support that they need they can go out and be productive citizens. We either need to be looking at doing something in the schools now to address these issues or otherwise we’re going to be looking at large welfare issues later on.
We’ve been really fortunate in that I was able to go to Washington DC and show some people in sub committees the movie. Lou and Keith recently went and screened it for the Secretary of Education. Our goal is that we want funding for continuation school for rural areas to address some of these needs.
We’ve been showing it to educators and I think it’s particularly important for people at traditional high schools to see. So often they get bogged down by the curriculum and they forgot about the child. That’s another message here: We can’t get to the curriculum until we deal with the child.
W&H: What’s one of the most important lessons you’ve learned from a student?
VV: Resiliency. You get knocked down, you stand back up. I see that every day. I’m so inspired by our kids every day in that. Not a day goes by where I don’t see a kid get knocked down by life and get back up saying, “I can do this.” It’s so inspiring to me because we’re all human and we all lose spirit at some point in time. If I get low on energy at any point in time it seems like I’m given a student who comes in and says “I can do this,” and I’m inspired again.
W&H: It’s clear that you’re an amazing leader, but I think the doc also shows how part of being a leader is empowering others. The school seems to work in such a collaborative, beautiful way where it’s not just you or the teachers helping the students but the students working with and helping each other.
VV: It really is the case. I tell people at the intake, “You’re coming into a family. We’re all-encompassing.” I tell them upfront because some people are not open to that: “If you’re going to walk in these doors, you’ve got to be willing to come into our family. Kids are going to tell you, ‘You need to get with it and do a better job.’ Teachers are going to tell you, ‘You can do this.’” We’re all going to be pushing them.
