2009-10 Best of the Best

"In the Blink of an Eye-Think Before You Drive"
Harry D. Jacobs High School
Algonquin, Illinois

Students and staff of Harry D. Jacobs High School represented themselves as a national leader on the issue of teen driver safety.  Their knowledge and powerful methods to engage peers in a commitment to promote safer driving were shared with students nationally and internationally. Some highlights include:

• Distributing 40 Safety Week Kits that include a Safe Driving Pledge Banner and a packet to run a successful safe driving campaign for Project Ignition schools and neighboring schools within our conference. These kits were estimated to engage over 42,000 students.
• Harry D. Jacobs High School formed numerous sustained partnerships with organizations such as; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, local school and student organizations, state and local government agencies, IL Governor's office, IL Secretary of State, local State Representatives, local State Farm agents, the Chicago Auto Show, and a youth leadership organization from Qatar (received a paid trip to Qatar to help with their youth summit on service-learning and safe youth driving) to name a few, all to promote safer teen driving;
• Presented workshops at numerous state, local and national conferences – including the National Service Learning Conference;
• Engaged numerous teachers in their school to connect the curriculum to a topic of their interest.
• Created a defensive driving video to be used in Driver's Education classrooms;
• Worked with local state representatives on improving the Illinois Graduated Licensing system.
• They have nearly completed a book they have titled, One World, One Problem: unlocking the Secrets of Safe Driving is expected to be completed in 2010. This book is a compilation of ideas and project starters that HDJ has demonstrated as quality to address teen driver safety.

Their goal is to ensure that all schools join them in meaningful efforts to where youth lead in saving the lives of their fellow teen drivers. Harry D. Jacobs High School has demonstrated that they will do all they can to ensure your school will have all the support and good ideas you would need. They encourage you and your school to join them as a part of PI Nation.