Develop Student Leadership Through WASC

Posted date: September 05, 2012 In: Blog, Membership

Exceptional student engagement and leadership is a necessary factor for creating the positive school cultures that take student learning, growth, and success to the next level. As a former principal, superintendent, and parent of student participants, I can testify to the transformative impact of the WASC and can think of no better program for building such capacity. Therefore, if your school/district is currently not a WASC member, I strongly encourage you to investigate how WASC programs can help raise the life trajectory for students in your school and community. Please read on for more information about WASC. Furthermore, if you are not currently a member of WASC, please also keep a look out for a forthcoming contact from a WASC representative that will be sent to school and/or student council leaders.

What is the WASC?

The WASC stands for the Wisconsin Association of School Councils. The WASC is a state-wide organization of public, private, and parachial elementary, middle, junior and senior high school student councils and/or student government groups. It is sponsored by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) and affiliated with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Division of Student Activities (DSA).

WASC mission: The WASC is deeply committed to the continuation and expansion of leadership development and student responsibilities in schools and to assisting school councils in meeting these commitments.

The WASC is split up into six regions geographically. Each region has an executive board of officers which then make up the governing board of the WASC at the state level. The governing board is made up of 12 adults and 12 students. The WASC is the only organization in the country today where student voice and adults voice are completely equal. Students have just as many votes as adults.

Why is the WASC worth looking into? What do you get for the $100 membership fee?

The WASC governing board, along with its member schools, put on events throughout the year around the state to provide leadership training and opportunities for all students. It is an organization that changes lives. It gives students new leadership skills, new-found confidence in their own abilities, and most importantly, new friends and connections that so often turn into best friends, role models, etc.