Teach students to become leaders for positive change in your school and your community! Giving students a voice promotes citizenship, school spirit, responsibility, and teamwork while teaching leadership skills in an authentic setting.

To start or strengthen your student leadership team, the following should be in place:

  • Volunteer(s) or selected advisor(s) interested in working with student leaders. Possible advisor(s): counselor, gifted and talented teacher, upper grade level teachers, other grade level teachers, or paraprofessionals.
  • A leadership team model that works for your campus; student council, ambassadors, character council, Leader in Me, Rachel’s Challenge, leadership team, etc.
  • Officer and representative structure to ensure all learners have a voice.
  • A specific space for meetings. Most leadership teams meet in a teacher’s classroom or the library.
  • Stated meeting dates. Typically designated; for example, the “second Tuesday” or the “first and third Wednesday” of the month. Officers plan the agenda and discuss upcoming events on a designated day before holding the general meeting.
  • A student leadership team constitution that includes the purpose, roles and responsibilities of members, and voting process.
  • A written election process that includes role descriptions, timeline, criteria to run, campaign rules, length of campaign, and voting procedures.

TEPSA Student Council Training
Leadership training programs, such as TEPSA Leaders ‘Я’ Us, are essential to help young leaders reach their full potential. Learn more and register your student leadership team and advisors for this interactive workshop designed to equip your learners and educators to lead your campus.

Contact Student Leadership Project Directors Pam Mitchell and Kimmie Etheredge for guidance to strengthen or implement your student leadership team.

The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), whose hallmark is educational leaders learning with and from each other, has served Texas PK-8 school leaders since 1917. Member owned and member governed, TEPSA has more than 6000 members who direct the activities of 3 million PK-8 school children. TEPSA is an affiliate of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

© Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association

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