Beginning in 2012, I was one of two media-arts professionals who developed and oversaw the MAD Studio program: a student-run agency, part of the Multimedia Arts and Design (MAD) Academy at Santa Barbara High School. Staffed by select MAD Academy students, Studio provided high-quality multimedia creative work for real-world clients.
MAD Studio offered services in graphic design, video production, web design, photography, and social networking. Qualified student interns honed multimedia skills they were learning in MAD Academy and developed professional work habits by learning project management, keeping accounting records, running business meetings and documenting communications. The team worked collaboratively to bring clients’ ideas to life, offering a professional outcome at an affordable cost.
Students selected for leadership positions were typically in the program from their sophomore year through graduation. They were eager and willing and committed — wonderful to mentor! Recently I provided a letter of recommendation for one of the graduates, now in college majoring in business. Later she wrote to say she was one of the successful candidates for membership into a competitive business club and closed with: “I probably wouldn’t be in the position, major, and program I am now if it weren’t for you believing in me my sophomore year of high school and encouraging me to stick with MAD Studio…”
Well, it doesn’t get any better than that! Keeping my eyes and ears open for new opportunities to work in education.
