High school student council taking steps to build character and servant leadership

At many schools around the world, student council often conjures up the image of popular students organizing class parties and spirit days. At CAJ, however, that perception is changing.

High school Student Council (StuCo) advisor Yukiko Howard—alongside former advisor Keith Kelleth—has been instrumental in reshaping the council’s identity.

“I really believe that leadership isn’t just about popularity, it’s about service,” Ms. Howard said. “It’s about pulling in the kids who are quiet and working hard behind the scenes. I wanted to make sure our program reflected a more diverse group of students.”

Just a few years ago, in the 2019–20 school year, StuCo consisted of only 12 members: four executives (president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary) and two representatives per grade. This year, that number has grown to 21 members, including five executives (a historian role was added) and four representatives for each grade.

The council has also introduced more specific and meaningful roles. Instead of a generic “class rep” title, members now hold clearly defined positions such as “class treasurer” or “social secretary.” According to Ms. Howard, this structure not only streamlines communication and workflow but also empowers each class to take greater ownership of their activities.

While event planning remains part of StuCo’s responsibilities, Ms. Howard emphasizes that it should not be the primary focus.

“We’re hoping to build mentorship and discipleship across different grade levels,” she said. “It’s about character, service, and giving of themselves in a positive, healthy way.”

The shift in purpose is evident in StuCo’s initiatives. Before the school year begins, members participate in a leadership retreat alongside the senior class council, followed by leadership and organizational training in the first months of school. Rather than constantly generating new events, the team looks for existing opportunities to contribute meaningfully.

This year, StuCo helped welcome new students during orientation and played a key role in both the Fall Festival and CAJ’s 75th Anniversary celebration.

Ms. Howard is also intentional about keeping faith at the core of StuCo’s mission. On Good Friday, the council collaborated with the student chapel committee to host a prayer event on campus at 8 a.m. Despite it being a school holiday, thirty high school students showed up.

“We want to hear the voice of believers in our school,” Ms. Howard said. “The students wanted a space to worship together, and the fact that they initiated and showed up for that—that was success in itself. We’re trying to show them that you don’t need to be on the chapel committee to take spiritual initiative.”

Looking ahead, Ms. Howard’s vision for StuCo is clear: it should be a space where students are encouraged to grow and lead with purpose.

“If I see potential in a student, I don’t back down from pushing them,” she said. “I believe that if I believe in students, eventually they’ll believe in themselves. And I hope that can reflect how Christ believes in them.”

Here is what some of the 2024–25 Student Council members had to say about their experience in StuCo:

Chee (12th Grade Class Secretary)
“StuCo has changed over the past couple of years by expanding the focus from just what the student body receives to how the leaders grow in their roles through planning and executing events. By creating roles for class reps (Class President, Treasurer, etc.), each person can truly play a part in leadership and develop a specialized skill set.”

Ibuki (9th Grade Class Social Secretary)
“This year, StuCo has shaped my thinking to become more centered on how to serve others in all situations rather than just how to have fun with them. It has been a learning experience for me on how to listen better and be more realistic in serving my fellow students.”

JunGi (9th Grade Class Treasurer)
“Through StuCo this year, I was able to improve in many aspects of leadership. StuCo has been largely about growing as a leader, and the StuCo supervisors guided us through each step while giving us space to improve on our own.”