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When a new teacher's AI show turns a test-obsessed school upside down, his principal makes it clear that innovation is welcome, as long as it doesn't change anything.
Photography by Patanisha Williams · tap any still to enlarge
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⎋At an urban elementary school obsessed with test prep, new teacher Nathan Edwards shakes things up, bending the rules, bringing back afternoon recess, and launching a creative AI Show for his students.
When the rules-focused principal tries to shut it down, students and parents step in, and the conflict catches the eye of the superintendent. In the end, shared loss and honest conversation help both educators rethink what school should really be about.
Nathan Edwards arrives at Emmanuel K-8 before sunrise, a new teacher, 52 and Black, fresh from decades in corporate America and still learning to live without his wife Gigi, whose photo he keeps in his desk drawer. He built the AI Show himself: six hands-on stations introducing his third graders to artificial intelligence for the first time. No science program existed in the building before he arrived.
Principal Harris, quietly unraveling through a divorce, decides the show doesn't belong three weeks before standardized testing. He routes the cancellation through Taylor, the veteran security guard, whose long-overdue promotion is quietly held over his head. When the fathers at Donuts with Dads learn the show was pulled, they push back, and the boys alert Nathan, just as district superintendent Dr. Roberts arrives on campus.
What begins as an institutional standoff gives way to something more honest: two men falling apart in the same year, learning that grief isn't weakness and that Black men carry more than they're taught to name. The AI Show goes on. A seventh grader tells Nathan what he built is visionary, but basic compared to the AI woven into the daily curriculum at his private school. The question lingers: will a system this resistant to change ever truly embrace what's next?
Six angles driving the conversation around Mr. Advocate. Tap any card to explore.
As artificial intelligence reshapes society, Mr. Advocate asks whether America's schools are preparing students for the future, or continuing to operate within systems designed for another era.
The film explores how structural inequities within education influence access to opportunity and innovation, encouraging audiences to consider how educational systems can evolve to better serve every student.
At the heart of the story is a male educator quietly battling depression, grief, and professional burnout, an authentic portrayal of emotional challenges many men and educators experience but rarely discuss openly.
Before becoming a filmmaker, Stacie McClam spent years working in education. Her classroom experiences inspired her to use cinema as a platform for public dialogue about education, technology, and social responsibility.
Mr. Advocate extends beyond traditional distribution through planned university screenings, community conversations, facilitated discussions, and educational partnerships designed to spark thoughtful engagement.
AI may be changing classrooms, but Mr. Advocate argues the larger conversation is about educational purpose, institutional responsibility, and ensuring every student has equitable access to thrive.
“The world is changing rapidly. The question is whether our educational systems are evolving with it. Students will need more than technical skills. They will need curiosity, resilience, sound judgment, and the ability to solve problems in ways that technology alone cannot.”
Stacie McClam · AP News
“I merge advocacy and film to challenge systems that undervalue our children and staff.”
A filmmaker, educator, and author, Stacie was bused to schools outside her neighborhood from elementary through high school. Inspired by her grandmother, a teacher in segregated Virginia, she taught in public schools across the U.S. and abroad before earning a law degree that now shapes how she tells stories.
Her company, School Dismissed, makes films that expose the realities students and staff face and reimagine education's future. Mr. Advocate is the first film in her forthcoming THE SYSTEM Trilogy, exploring the promise and challenges of AI in elementary, middle, and high schools.
Tap any actor to read their bio.
An actor, author, and speaker dedicated to storytelling that inspires personal growth, creativity, and emotional honesty. A modern-day renaissance man, Rodney blends film, writing, and public speaking to explore resilience, faith, relationships, and mental health, using art as a catalyst for healing and transformation.
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An actor with a decade of experience in film, comedy, and digital storytelling. Trained at Studio A.C.T. at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, his work spans dramatic and comedic roles. He has built an audience of more than 700,000 followers and partnered with Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Dove.
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A voice-over talent whose dream began at age five. He studied and performed opera, sang in a five-man vocal group, and has voiced major campaigns for NFL Network, the Brooklyn Nets, McDonald's, Red Bull, Nickelodeon, and Johns Hopkins. He coaches voice-over and has recently transitioned into film and TV.
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An actor, director, writer, poet, producer, and advocate, and a Xavier University of Louisiana graduate. Author of Big Kid Book, producer of Brother's Keeper, and writer of the award-nominated Karter Hall. Founder of mental-health nonprofit Brain Unchained, he has appeared on Disney Channel, Amazon, Netflix, ABC, NBC, and Hulu.
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A seasoned performer at just 13, Ivan has worked with world-renowned singers, dancers, and musicians across the US, UK, and Mexico. He recorded his first track at four, and by nine became the youngest artist ever signed to Concord Records and the youngest member of Kidz Bop. He is passionate about inspiring kids everywhere.
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Jere'Miah brings emotional authenticity, vulnerability, and grounded realism to every role. With years in the performing arts and a deep understanding of how acting, music, cinematography, and storytelling work together, he creates performances that connect with audiences and leave a lasting impact.
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Primarily known as an actor, Rapheal is also a vocalist and an award-winning producer. On film and stage he has portrayed a dynamic range of characters, drawn toward stories that project illusion or reflect reality from unique perspectives. A world traveler, he blends experience and imagination through his art.
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Art Spell has been performing since he was six. He acted, sang, and danced through childhood and high school in plays, musicals, and dance shows, then continued at Sonoma State University on a theater scholarship. His one true love has always been acting, and his dream is to act in Hollywood movies.
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A multi-talented storyteller and lighting designer based in the Bay Area. He has lit numerous feature films, including the indie hit Fremont (2023), and commercials for Gap, the Golden State Warriors, and Old Navy. He also performs stand-up across the Bay and shoots 35mm film photography.
Read bio +Some of the many talented hands behind Mr. Advocate.
Filmmaker, educator, and author behind School Dismissed. Drawing on years of teaching and a law degree, she makes films that expose the realities students and staff face. Mr. Advocate is the first film in her forthcoming THE SYSTEM Trilogy.
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A Bay Area writer, director, and producer telling bold, emotionally grounded stories. Since 2019 his shorts and proof-of-concept projects have screened at festivals across the U.S. and internationally.
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A University of Findlay Digital Media graduate and Bay Area freelancer working across commercials, campaigns, and features as 1st AC, 2nd AC, VTR Assistant, and Photo Assistant.
Read bio +A multi-talented storyteller and lighting designer based in the Bay Area. He has lit numerous feature films, including the indie hit Fremont (2023), plus commercials for Gap, the Golden State Warriors, and Old Navy. He also performs stand-up and shoots 35mm film photography.
Read bio +
An Oakland-born filmmaker and stage hand. After getting his start in Brooklyn, Jamari came home to start a family and make great work happen.
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A multidisciplinary creative who directed music licensing for Lionsgate before returning to Bay Area film. His credits span Production Design, Art Direction, Associate Producing, and acting.
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A production sound mixer with years of experience across the SF Bay Area and numerous other states, working on commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, and short films. Adaptable on set, she moves easily between fast-paced shoots and controlled interviews, handles gear confidently, and collaborates with a positive attitude, always committed to delivering great audio and going above and beyond for her crew and clients.
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A screenwriter and audio mixer from the Bay Area. He lives in San Francisco and splits his time between running the city's public-access station, SF Commons, and making his own films. Though his crew days are mainly behind him, he fondly remembers working on Stacie's films.
Read bio +Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Oakland, California
San Francisco, California
Atlanta, Georgia
San Francisco, California
Los Angeles, California
Richmond, California
Redwood City, California
“I didn't come here to survive. I came to teach.”
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