If your school’s mission includes an emphasis on leadership and community involvement, a student council is often a great way to help students learn and share these skills.
A student council can be a key driver in cultivating leadership skills for students in the middle and upper levels.
Through an effective student council, students learn how to:
- balance competing priorities and responsibilities;
- identify problems and generate creative solutions;
- address issues with different groups;
- consider multiple opinions;
- build consensus; and
- navigate and learn from success and failure.
Academic leaders can strengthen the position of the student council and improve the leadership skills of their school’s graduates. Employ these four strategies when considering your school’s student council.
Increase the perceived value of the student council. Help students and families see the meaning behind the student council and the prestige that comes with being involved. For students, tie requirements for participation into your mission. Does your mission call for academic excellence? Does it establish academic criteria or require character development? Does your mission call for faculty recommendations?
Share clear expectations. Make sure all students serving on the student council understand their commitment. These expectations should be written, and cover time and performance requirements. Include rules about maintaining grades, missing no more than a specified number of meetings, and fulfilling deadlines for all responsibilities. Members should also understand the school’s mission and strategic plan, and how the student council’s mission interacts with and supports these key elements.
Plan leadership-focused activities. Consider planning a leadership-focused retreat to help your student council members learn essential skills. Include a mix of formal leadership training and entertaining activities. These could include reading assignments; guest speakers; information on organizational roles and structure; and exercises that teach team building, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
Get involved in the community. Student council members can plan events to give back to the community and involve their fellow students in these endeavors. Consider holidays and events that the council could support by organizing fundraisers or volunteer activities. When students get involved and lead in different capacities, it strengthens their abilities and betters the community.
Strengthen your student council initiatives to build leadership qualities in your students and support your school’s mission.
Additional ISM Resources:
The Source for Advancement Vol. 15 No. 8 The Importance of Creating a “Portrait of the Graduate” Statement for Your School
The Source for Trustees Vol. 14 No. 1 Student College and Career Readiness
The Source for School Heads Vol. 14 No. 8 School-Based Student-Leadership Programs: An Overview
Additional ISM resources for Gold members:
I&P Vol. 38 No. 13 Teaching as Leadership: ISM Research
I&P Vol. 31 No. 13 Faculty Evaluation, Student Performance, and School Leadership: An Update
