Vicki Abeles

Vicki Abeles is a filmmaker, author, speaker, change agent, and youth advocate. She has been actively involved in addressing the issue of children’s mental health and the pressures they face in the education system. Vicki Abeles started her career as a Wall Street attorney but turned to filmmaking when she observed the growing epidemic of school stress among children in the United States, including her own kids. She noticed the detrimental effects of an achievement-focused culture on children’s health, growth, and learning, which led her to direct the award-winning documentary “Race to Nowhere”.

“Race to Nowhere” is a 2009 documentary film co-directed by Vicki Abeles and Jessica Congdon. The film examines the pressures faced by students in the education system and sheds light on the unintended consequences of an obsessive achievement culture. The documentary gained significant attention and sparked a grassroots movement aimed at restoring student well-being, transforming education, and redefining success.

Vicki Abeles’ second film, “Beyond Measure,” explores a revolution taking place in public schools across the country. The film offers a positive perspective on what is possible in education when communities decide to change. Additionally, Vicki Abeles has authored a New York Times bestselling book titled “Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation.” The book provides practical steps to revolutionize schools and prioritize children’s well-being.

Vicki Abeles has employed a cutting-edge community distribution model for her films, which has enabled the screening of “Race to Nowhere” in more than 10,000 community-sponsored events, reaching millions of viewers worldwide. She has been actively involved in advocating for changes in education policies and practices to promote student health and meaningful learning. Currently, Vicki is working on a film project called “Counted Out,” which explores the role of mathematics in shaping the health of democracy and how changes in math education can benefit society. She also produced a live stream community event titled “State of the Kids: Uniting for Youth Mental Health” in the spring of 2022.