Posters Immortalize Teachers

Salem Teachers those highly accessible, day-to-day masters of their crafts have earned a spot on the wall of the Salem High School library.

Their portrait posters, emblazoned in letters large enough to see from any vantage point, carry a simple but profound message. READ.

And now with a little help from Suzanne Landolfi's graphic design class, hanging right around the corner from a poster of Yo-Yo Ma who holds his cello and the children's classic "Goodnight Moon" hangs Ms. Corbin, clutching her cookbook and a cupcake.

"We wanted to design something that could test the skills learned in the classroom, and put up some faces that students can identify with," Landolfi said. "The teachers dressed up and got really into it ... So did the students."

There are almost a dozen posters at this point, beckoning visitors to take up a common calling. Upstairs, Mr. Merritt is cloaked in a friar's robe, enthralled in a copy of "Beowulf." And the intimidating portrait of Mr. Mosley is reminiscent of the iconic Terminator, as he carries with him "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles." There are even some students on the wall.

The campaign is designed to inspire students, to get them curious about books ranging from those classic works of the pen and ink age to the practical how-to's of today.

It mimics the American Library Association's own READ campaign, where famous celebrities pose with their favorite books. School officials are realizing that their old, dusty posters, such as that of Weird Al Yankovic, just aren't cutting it these days.

"We want to do anything we can to motivate young people to read," said high school principal Dr. Gregory Dunham. "Reading is becoming a lost art. Technology is a wonderful thing, but without books some things get short-circuited. We don't want our kids to lose the art."

Dunham said that the standardized test scores at the high school deems the students are proficient, but they should work toward perfection.

Landolfi explained that graphic design students Matt Richman and Erin McCarthy put together the final products now decorating the room, using Adobe Photoshop. All the printing was done at the school as well. Landolfi said that the two can pretty much do anything and everything she asks of them.

"It was a lot of fun, I really enjoy doing stuff like this," McCarthy said. "It's not what I plan to go to college for, but it's good to have these skills."

According to library and media specialist Lisa Mutter, the campaign has gotten an enthusiastic response from students and teachers alike.

"We realized we have some of our own local celebrities, and they are right here every day," Mutter said. "Our teachers, students and administrators are role models, too. And we much rather see ourselves on the wall."

February 16, 2008