Centennial High Film Class Empowers Students, Wins Big

Teacher's unique approach transforms struggling program into award-winning studio

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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At Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia, film teacher Chris Buechner has transformed the school's struggling film program into an award-winning studio where students are the directors, producers, and on-air talent. Buechner's philosophy of embracing failure as part of the learning process has empowered students to express themselves creatively and gain valuable technical skills, leading to dozens of national awards for the program.

Why it matters

Buechner's innovative approach to teaching film production has not only revived a struggling program, but has also given students at Centennial High a unique outlet to develop their creative and technical skills. The program's success highlights the importance of providing students with hands-on learning opportunities that foster confidence, community, and a willingness to take risks.

The details

When Buechner arrived at Centennial, the film program was in disarray, with outdated equipment and high teacher turnover. Buechner set out to build something that would excite students, giving them full control over producing a weekly show called 'The Loft' as well as covering campus news, making short films, and creating sports content. Buechner's philosophy of embracing failure as part of the learning process has empowered students to take risks and continuously improve their skills.

  • Buechner began teaching at Centennial High School in 2023.
  • The film program has won dozens of national awards since Buechner took over.
  • Next month, the Centennial High film students will compete again on the national stage.

The players

Chris Buechner

The film teacher at Centennial High School who transformed the struggling program into an award-winning studio.

Opie Blackwell

The principal of Centennial High School, who has witnessed the remarkable transformation of the film program under Buechner's leadership.

Victoria Oliveira

A student in Buechner's film class who appreciates his emphasis on having fun and learning from mistakes.

Matthew Bronitt

A student who says Buechner's advice to 'never settle' has stuck with him, both in film and in life.

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What they’re saying

“To be here, I never could envision any of this. If I was a teacher, I thought 'oh four walls, desks, paper and pencil…but not this.'”

— Chris Buechner, Film Teacher (cbsnews.com)

“This is what I call the backbone of Centennial. If you're a community member, a parent, a staff member, or definitely a student, you know about this production studio.”

— Opie Blackwell, Principal (cbsnews.com)

“Mr. Buechner just really reminds us how the whole point is to have fun and get better at what you want to do. He gives you so many opportunities, and if you mess up, it's fine—you learn from your mistakes.”

— Victoria Oliveira, Student (cbsnews.com)

“He tells us to never settle, so that kind of stuck with me—not just with film, but in life.”

— Matthew Bronitt, Student (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Next month, the Centennial High film students will compete again on the national stage.

The takeaway

Buechner's innovative approach to teaching film production has not only revived a struggling program, but has also given students at Centennial High a unique outlet to develop their creative and technical skills, empowering them to express themselves and gain valuable life lessons beyond the classroom.