LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Safety by Design


First-place Digital Design poster by Acalanes High School student William Audley. Image provided

Teachers go to great lengths to educate our kids and to help them make good choices. But who reminds teachers to make safe choices for themselves each day at work? Apparently, students do.

For the past four years, the Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group (CCCIG) has turned to students throughout over 20 school districts they insure to portray anew their message of classroom safety. A $100 cash prize motivates students from Antioch Elementary schools to the Contra Costa Community Colleges to design a winning poster. CCCIG hopes fresh designs each year will capture the eye of teachers in staff rooms, reminding them to stay safe at work. In the Fourth Annual "Slip Trip Fall Prevention Student Poster Contest" the winning design in the high school category came from the Acalanes School District.

William Audley, a sophomore at Acalanes High School, submitted two posters and waited nervously. He was excited about this contest because there was prize money on the table and he felt good about his designs. William's confidence could be counted on. A design by William last year was chosen by Acalanes school faculty to cover the academic school planner for 2012-2013.

Interested in computers and art when he started Acalanes, Audley chose Digital Design 1 as an elective his freshman year. His interest and passion grew swiftly. "I really like using graphic design tools and I really like the class. It's fun!" says Audley of Digital Design. His enjoyment of the class is shored up daily by Digital Design teacher Susan Lane who instructs students in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Beyond software, Lane works to improve her students' understanding of the field of graphic design. And with each new element taught, she lets the artists go to work.

"She lets us work independently," says Audley. "It's great!" Challenging her students with projects such as the CCCIG contest, Lane seizes opportunities to teach a real life skill: designing under pressure. Audley is catching on. His safety poster will be posted in offices of over 20 school districts.

Second place in the high school category also went to an Acalanes High School Student. Kyle McQuain, a freshman and a student in Lane's Digital Design 1 class helped make it "A sweep!" according to Lane, who will also receive $100 from CCCIG to help with classroom supplies.