A Conversation With… John Norlin
John Norlin is co-founder of CharacterStrong, an organization that provides leadership and character development curricula for schools internationally. Before founding CharacterStrong, Norlin was a leadership teacher and student council adviser for a decade and then served as program administrator for the whole child and director of student leadership in the Sumner School District in Washington...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
From the Directors: April/May 2019
It’s funny how sometimes you say one thing and people hear different things. Remember the “Yanny” versus “Laurel” craze last spring? That’s what’s fun about leadership, too. Even though you may be working toward a common goal or share the same values, everyone connects to leadership and activities in a different way. We spend some...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
Collaboration Space: April/May 2019
Back in Black The student council at Foothill High School in Henderson, NV, had a bright idea earlier this year: Hold a black light assembly to celebrate homecoming. They contacted a local entertainment company that specializes in black lighting to help set things up. The students purchased lasers and made glow-in-the-dark posters to decorate the...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
Advise: April/May 2019
One cannot deny that school is a busy place. With classes, new learning initiatives, sports, clubs, celebrations, and of course, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, and student council meetings, students and staff are constantly juggling multiple commitments. Features Exemplifying Excellence M. Diane McCormick Personalizing the Leadership Experience Jim Paterson College Access Strategies That...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
NatStuCo Update: April/May 2019
National Student Council’s Distinguished Student Leaders Program is a rigorous and challenging skill- and knowledge-based recognition program created specifically for high school students who want to take their leadership to the next level. Now is a good time to remind your students to submit their portfolios or to familiarize themselves with the requirements of building...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
Personalizing the Leadership Experience
Experts increasingly suggest that educators should explore the ways that each specific student learns, and provide personalized instruction and opportunities. Doing so can not only help students individually, but can strengthen school groups like student council as different students work together. Amanda Pinson, who has been a student council adviser for 10 years at Crescent...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
Take 10: April/May 2019
Exemplifying Excellence Warren E. Shull Award winners Susan Waldrep, TX, and Lisa Whirtley, WV, offer these pearls of wisdom: Word of mouth can be a great tool for creating a diverse council. Try establishing a theme for your student council at the beginning of the year. Remind council members that their peers are watching how...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
Exemplifying Excellence
While the “job” might technically be theirs, top National Student Council (NatStuCo) advisers know that in order to empower and stimulate students in NatStuCo, they must let the younger set lead. For Susan Waldrep and Lisa Whirtley, guiding students to embrace diversity and promoting student voice has led to award-winning councils, and now these two...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
College Access Strategies That Support Student Success
Spring showers bring May college decisions? That’s not quite the saying we’re used to; however, May 1 is National College Signing Day—the deadline for many students to declare the college in which they intend to enroll. For some students, this decision may be a no-brainer; for others it can be a grueling task. The point...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)
A Conversation With… Jenny V. Ha
Jenny V. Ha, a National Honor Society (NHS) scholarship recipient, is the Legislative Affairs Subcommittee chair and youngest serving board member on the University of Southern California (USC)Norman Topping Student Aid Fund—a student-led initiative to provide financial and academic support to high-needs students. She is currently a freshman majoring in sociology and pursuing double minors...
Advise, Advise: Volume 47 (2018-2019)