Best Kept Secret
2013 (UNRATED)
At JFK High School in Newark, special education teacher Janet Mino fights against the odds to prepare her students with autism for life after graduation. Best Kept Secret follows their journey as the clock ticks down, revealing the challenges and urgency of securing a future beyond the classroom.
DIRECTED BY
Samantha Buck
YEAR
2013
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SYNOPSIS
In the heart of Newark, New Jersey, JFK High School serves students with special education needs, offering them a rare sense of structure and support. For four years, teacher Janet Mino has guided a dedicated class of young men with autism, helping them navigate a world that often overlooks their potential. But as they approach graduation in the spring of 2012, the safety net of the public school system disappears, leaving an uncertain future ahead. Best Kept Secret follows Ms. Mino and her students over an intense year and a half as she races to find them opportunities—jobs, community programs, or placements in recreational centers—before they are left with no options at all. Without a plan, they risk the fate of many before them: isolation, institutionalization, or life on the streets. This poignant documentary sheds light on an often-hidden crisis, celebrating the resilience of those determined to change the system and the lives at stake.