Navigating Leadership: Student Council Positions and Responsibilities

Student councils stand as a vital component of the educational experience, extending their influence from secondary schools to even K-8 institutions. The student council serves as the voice of the student body and acts as the connection between the students and the school. The individuals elected or appointed to leadership roles within these councils are more than just event organizers or problem solvers; they are instrumental in shaping the school's culture, fostering a sense of community, and equipping themselves and their peers with essential leadership skills for the future.

The Significance of Student Councils

An effective student council should strive to care for their school and community through volunteerism. By contributing to school activities and representing peers, students help create a more inclusive and engaged school environment. Student Council should sponsor activities, projects, and events that include the entire student body. Student councils have to “get along” to be effective. All the great ideas for projects, activities, happenings, and events must have the support of the principal, faculty, and staff to be considered potential successes.

Benefits of Participating in Student Council

Serving on a student council offers numerous benefits to individual members, as well as to the school community.

Personal Growth and Skill Development

Self-Confidence: Students gain self-esteem when they take on responsibilities and see their ideas come to life.
Prioritizing Tasks: Student council members learn to manage tasks and commitments, balancing council duties with schoolwork. Those serving at our schools developed schedules to ensure they met deadlines for academic assignments, council duties, and other activities.
Leadership Development: Leadership development is a lifelong journey, not a brief trip. The advisor develops leadership in the student council members through the delegation of duties and responsibilities.
Understanding Roles and Responsibilities: Teachers should be clear about the roles and responsibilities of student council members. This includes helping students understand their duties and how to effectively collaborate with peers.
Facilitating Skill Development: Teachers can guide students in developing essential leadership, time management, and public speaking skills, incorporating lessons into classroom activities or providing specific exercises.

Community Building

Building community: By contributing to school activities and representing peers, students help create a more inclusive and engaged school environment. For example, the student council president at Urbana Elementary spearheaded a campaign to improve school spirit. She organized student outreach assemblies and encouraged students from different grades to participate in school events.

Essential Roles Within the Student Council

The composition of a student council typically includes several key positions, each with distinct responsibilities that contribute to the overall effectiveness of the council. The following positions represent the student body as a whole.

President

The President is the leader of Student Council. The president of the student council not only represents all students at the school but also specifically represents the student council as a whole. He or she is in charge of conducting the meetings and knowing all of the rules of Student Council. The president has an active role in the school, representing the student body to the school's administration. The president must also represent the student council to both the administration and to the other students. The president must be ready to answer for or explain the dealings of the student council. The President is also expected to prepare a list of things to be discussed at the meetings, call the meeting to order, cover the list of items to be discussed, and make sure that everyone who wishes to speak gets a chance. The President must also count votes and be able to summarize the meeting for people who were not there.

Vice-President

The Vice-President serves as a substitute in case the President is absent form a meeting. Similarly to the president, the vice-president acts as a representative of both the students and the student council - though to a lesser extent than the president. Therefore, the Vice-President has the same requirements as above. In addition, the Vice-President assists the President in their duties and forms the committees which may be organized. The vice-president steps in when the president is unavailable to preside over meetings or to meet with other students or faculty. It's common for the vice-president to be assigned to chair committees or run projects. Though they may not lead the student council, they typically have plenty of leadership opportunities and responsibilities.

Secretary

The Secretary takes neat, careful notes at every meeting, reads their notes from the previous meeting before the beginning of the next meeting, and writes any letters that the Council decides to send. The secretary is responsible for keeping accurate notes (also called "minutes") of student council meetings. It's the secretary's responsibility to ensure other students and faculty have access to these notes so the student council has transparency. Although this is sometimes an additional position in student council all its own, the secretary frequently finds themselves responsible for the dissemination of information on behalf of the council. Maintaining a student council blog, releasing meeting notes to the school newspaper, and any other public affairs responsibilities typically fall upon the secretary unless another position exists specifically for these duties.

Treasurer

The Treasurer keeps careful records of the money that Student Council has through fundraisers and how much they spend. The treasurer is in charge of maintaining the student council budget. They report on how much money they have spent at every meeting and help to prepare a budget for the year with the other members. Fundraising events are managed by the treasurer, who must ensure all funds are used responsibly and in accordance to student council votes and regulations. If there is a budget committee within the student council, it is the treasurer who chairs these meetings - not the president. The treasurer is typically third in line as the chairperson of the entire student council below the president and vice-president, although this can vary from school to school. Otherwise, anything to do with money falls within the realm of the treasurer's responsibility.

Student Representatives

All elected Student Council Representatives are to attend all Student Council meetings, represent the views of your classmates, aid in Student Council activities and keep your classmates informed of decisions. Not all student council members hold an office position. Instead, they act as more direct representatives of the students at large by bringing ideas to the council based on what students want or need.

Administrative Assistant

The Administrative Assistant to the Student Council is an appointed position. Students must be nominated by their Student Council Teacher Advisory Board members. An Administrative Assistant is responsible for aiding the Student Council Teacher Advisory Board and our elected Student Council body.

Read also: Education Curriculum Roles

Maintaining Standards and Ethical Conduct

Members of Student Council are expected to set a positive example for others to follow. All members are expected to maintain good grades and act as positive influences within the school.

Shall maintain the accepted academic standard of a 2.5 GPA and acceptable behavioral record throughout the year (verified approximately every nine weeks). Student council leaders are public officials who must hold themselves to a high standard because they serve as role models for other students. It they are to lead effectively and hold the confidence and respect of those they serve, their conduct must conform to an ethical code. Each school should develop its own code of ethical conduct for student leaders. No written formulas can cover all of the challenges that may face student leaders. Your council leadership should develop an expectation that student leaders will exercise good judgment and take personal responsibility for decisions that impact their ability to serve as leaders.

The Role of Advisors, Principals and Faculty

The Advisor

Student council is as successful as the advisor wishes it to be. It takes someone with a great deal of patience, enthusiasm and love of young people to advise, coach, inspire, communicate and, in general, to keep the council moving successfully forward. The advisor develops leadership in the student council members through the delegation of duties and responsibilities. The advisor walks a delicate line between representing students and representing administration. Ask for and assist in developing a job description for the position. Being an ADVISOR means being a resource person, a leader, a good example, a unique representative of students to faculty and administration. It is advising and coordinating all phases of the council program while making it a learning experience for those involved and an integral part in the school program. ADVISORSHIP is one of the toughest challenges in the school program today.

The Principal

Principals play a crucial role in shaping the culture of a school and can significantly influence the success of a student council. The administration is a group of people who are legally responsible for the school program. If mistakes are made, the administration-and, more specifically, the principal-must bear the brunt of the criticism. The principal cannot delegate any of his or her responsibility, but he or she can delegate authority. It is proper for the principal to delegate certain powers to the student council. The student council has no power unless the principal delegates it. When a student council fails to understand its areas of authority, a breakdown of communications between the principal and the student council may result. A student council needs to know the levels in which it may operate. Hold weekly meetings with the administrative team, particularly the principal, to inform them of the student council’s activities, to discuss student council business and administrative policies. Principals should participate in or attend student council meetings and events to show that student leadership is valued and model the behaviors and values expected of student leaders.

The Faculty

The faculty is a very important support group for a student council. A strong working relationship with the faculty is a definite advantage. Start a Teacher Pal project. Have each student council member choose one or two teachers as their pals. On holidays, during finals week, or for just a regular school day, each student council member gives their secret pals something-a cake, a red grading pen, a little candy, a birthday or greeting card, or just a small personal note. Issue a sincere welcome back to all teachers at the beginning faculty meeting before school opens. Request five or ten minutes at monthly faculty meetings. Ask the teachers if they have any suggestions or ideas.

Read also: More on student leadership

Support Personnel

The support personnel in the school are often affected by the activities of the student council. Their help and cooperation enables projects and activities sponsored by the council to run more smoothly and efficiently. Dances, special activities after school hours, and Saturday functions such as district conventions require the aid of custodial and cafeteria personnel. Do not leave all cleaning up to the custodians. See that after an activity, student council members help clean up.

Staff Support

Staff support contributes to the student council’s success.

Project planning and execution: Teachers can assist student council members in planning and executing projects by offering advice on project management, goal-setting, and problem-solving.
Balancing academics and council duties: Teachers might offer flexible deadlines or help students prioritize their workloads.
Providing feedback and encouragement: Regular feedback and encouragement from teachers can motivate students and improve their performance in council activities and academic work.

How to Become a Member

Typically, all student council members are voted into their roles based on a school-wide election. Officers are either elected into their roles from the larger election, a council-only election, or by faculty designation. This can vary from school to school. Members of the student council can be removed from their roles at the discretion of the principal and faculty, based on the existing rules. Any student council member who experiences disciplinary action or failing grades will likely be removed from the council.

To run for any of the listed positions, a Declaration of Candidacy Form must be filled out, signed, and turned in to Ms. Baltuskonis. Forms can be sent to Ms. Baltuskonis, no later than 11:59 pm on Friday, May 5th. An election meeting will be held during lunch on Wednesday, 5/3 in room 110. If learning what student council does has inspired you to become a member and maybe even run for an office, you're going to need some tips on creating a terrific student council speech.

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