Some extra-enthusiastic WDHS students show off their classroom call letters, painted right on their torsos.

"If not for this place, I would have wasted the past four years of high school," says Joel Walkowski, a 17-year-old senior talking about the WDHS Student Video Program at Dearborn High School in Michigan. "This place has changed my life."

WDHS combines teens' interest in technology and media with sophisticated equipment and inspired guidance in how to use it in cool ways. Not surprisingly, WDHS classes are hugely popular among the 1,600 students at Dearborn High.

For students like Walkowski, the impact is profound. He plans to attend a 4-year college to study directing. Plus, he's already won an international media award for his animated feature about whales, called "Baby Beluga," which he produced and developed in WDHS classes last year.

Dearborn High students come from a culturally diverse community of 97,000. They follow a standard core curriculum, but the school's elective offerings include several WDHS classes.

This year, 71 students are enrolled in studio production classes where they begin to learn how to operate television, film, radio and computer equipment. Twenty-nine are in video editing courses where they work on scripting, producing and acting out films. Thirty-one students are in advanced classes working on special projects—which often call on the expertise of math, physics, and computer teachers in the school—like the "WDHS Wearable Computer," which was featured on NBC's Today Show in 1999.

The students have almost round-the-clock-access to over $1 million worth of equipment that includes television, film, and radio editing tools, as well as anything and everything related to computers.

Teacher Russ Gibb—a former rock music promoter who has been teaching public school for almost 45 years—started the program nearly 30 years ago.

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An anti-smoking public service announcement created by former Dearborn High student Mike Scoboarias.

A Genesis-inspired take on Gibb's role, written by 1989 alumna Nicole LaDouceur, can be found on the WDHS Web site: "In the beginning, there was Russ. And the educational system was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the classroom. And the voice of Russ moved upon the empty desks and said, 'Uhh... uhh... Let there be television sets.' Russ said, 'This will be the most powerful invention of all time.' Russ watched the television. He saw that it was good: but he soon became tired of Green Acres reruns. This was the first day."

Resource: Many more student-produced videos can be found here. [2]

"It's been Russ's life to help kids in a unique way," says Dearborn's principal, Judith Coebly. "He started off like that his first year as a teacher—his whole life has been one of music and entertainment and communications—and he has changed his style as technology continues to advance. He has been able to see that as the technology world changes, it can help kids in profound ways."

The classes are so popular that it's difficult to fit in every interested student. "They are always maxed out," says Coebly. But through what she calls "creative scheduling by pencil" in the summer, she, Gibb, and Kurt Doelle, the co-teacher of the program, manage to work it out.

It's All About the Kids
Gibb, 73, deflects any focus on his role in creating WDHS. He calls himself an "old fart" who likes to wear tennis shoes and white socks to class and who hates having to wear "god-damned bifocals to see everything."

"I have great kids," says Gibb. "The mistake that we make is trying to focus on a teacher who has done amazing things when we should focus on the program and how kids have responded to it."

During a telephone interview Gibb made it explicitly clear that his students are the story. He pulled over 17 year-old Jordan Dunn, a student that he fondly refers to as "my muppet" (because of his wild hairstyle), and put him on the line. Said Dunn, "I had a cool first semester working with computer tech—it's been great." Dunn now helps younger students learn as a classroom computer technician.

Sixteen-year-old Greg Arevigian is in his first semester at WDHS in one of the video classes. "I'm helping film a talk show, which we are putting on public access TV," says Arevigian. The program is called "The Brian Show"—named after student host Brian Corpolongo. "Today's special guest was Brian's 14-year-old next door neighbor who looks like he's 5," says Diana Zurawaski, a senior in the studio productions course. "Last week we featured a 'bear trainer,' but we didn't have a bear, so we brought in someone dressed in a bee costume for him to train."

Principal Coebly believes that this type of program is a great model for at-risk students. "Some students have difficulties sitting inside a classroom box for 6 hours or more a day. This program allows flexibility that others don't."

Kids are free to come in to the WDHS studio as early or as late as they like to work on projects, even on the weekends. The studio has its own security system. Another unusual feature—a streaming video system that transmits from the studio onto the Internet 24 hours a day—allows interested individuals around the world to look in on student projects and lets Gibb and Doelle see what's going on in the studio at any time.

Dearborn High School raises money for WDHS every Halloween.

Educators Take Note
Coebly says that programs like WDHS are popping up in private schools, but are rare in public schools. She'd like to see that change, but she knows that funding is an issue.

"Educators who want to try similar experiments in their schools have to understand that this is very expensive," warns Coebly. "It has taken years and years to be able to be at the point where we are now."

The overall program, which Doelle estimates costs about $50,000 to run each year, is partially funded through the Dearborn Foundation. Money also comes from the school district, and Gibb applies for grants from other sources.

Students help support the program too. The annual Halloween dance at Dearborn High is a benefit for WDHS. "We hold contests for best costume, dancer and best group costume. It's the most popular dance of the year at Dearborn High," explains Zurawaski.

Award-winning student projects and the success of program alumni (like Robert Kernen, an Emmy award-winning writer for the children's program "Lamb Chop's Play-Along") bring publicity to the program, which in turn boosts fundraising. Gibb estimates that the school has received approximately $1 million in donations in recent years.

Gibb is a tenacious and relentless fundraiser. "He doesn't take "no" for an answer," says Coebly. "He works with the system, but he also works outside the box."

Resource: Read some of the many press clippings [3] about the students' work

The program's success and Gibb's ability to raise outside funds give him clout with the district, too. "The Board of Education could not argue with [Gibb's] recommendations as the folks who know the program would stampede the board room," says Sharon Dulmage, a member of the Dearborn Public Schools Board.

Attitude is Everything
"I think that the program could be replicated in other districts but whoever does it must be creative and have connections to the media," explains Dulmage. "I live near the school and know that Russ and crew are there working very late or very early in the AM in order to do what they do." Dulmage says the program requires both strong fund-raising, and strong local connections. Local businesses, for example, might want help with video productions and be willing to make in-kind contributions in return.

Doelle says that teachers should understand that the time commitment is enormous—but the payoff is worth it.

Students certainly seem to appreciate the commitment: "While Mr. Gibb is our philosophy mentor, Mr. Doelle is our technical one," says Jay Enright, the studio's 17-year-old station manager. "When we're in the studio editing on a Saturday, he's right here with us, getting us food, joking around—he keeps our morale high."

Leaders in the youth field have taken note of WDHS. "They've done amazing work," says Austin Haeberle, Creative Director of Listen Up!, an online youth media network that features some public service announcement films by WDHS students. "It's absolutely replicable in other schools. Teachers who have strong personalities and go the extra mile can make it work. And you don't need a million dollars—if you can drum up $5,000, you can have a quality media production unit."

"There's no sense in reinventing the wheel," is Coebly's advice. "Take what is good from our school and use it."

Contact Information: Russell Gibb 19501 W. Outer Dr. Dearborn, MI 48124 russgibb@wdhsvideo.org [4] Phone: (313)-730-3104

She also suggests that interested educators contact people who have been successful at fundraising and working with community groups. "Get a group of people together who have been involved in radio, TV—enthusiastic community members, university people—they all want to help make schools better."

Another good strategy might be to hook up with a WDHS graduate. In a few years, Enright just might be available: "After high school, I want to go to the University of Michigan and get a teaching degree and degrees in English and Communications," he says. "I ultimately want to teach a class just like Mr. Gibb has done for us. He never tells me what to do—he gives me the freedom to find my own way."

Resources:

• The WDHS Student Video Web site [5]
• The Listen Up! Youth network highlights some WDHS student-produced public service announcements. [6]
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Rob Capriccioso is a staff writer for Connect for Kids.