Anjali Verma, president of the National Student Council, shares how teens search for mental health support online and what that means for schools.

Yashvi Javia sits down with Anjali Verma, a self-proclaimed leadership nerd, to talk about her experience with student council at her own school and as National Student Council President. She talks about her journey to involvement in a student leadership role and what inspires her.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) — A rising junior from Fairmont Senior High School has been selected to join the newly created National Student Council, which looks to advocate for educational policies affecting students nationwide. Jamyson Posey is one of 10 students from across the country selected to be on the council created by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

National Student Council President Anjali Verma was profiled on
EdWeek, where she spoke about the power of student councils and how they can team up with school leaders, her plans for the National Student Council, and what policymakers and educators need to know about student mental health.

As the nation wrestles with critical issues from the future of education to democracy itself, student voices have been left out of the conversation—until now. NASSP recently held its first election for the newly created National Student Council. The ten students elected to the Council will advocate on behalf of millions of their peers on federal policies that directly shape their educational experiences. NASSP’s National Association of Student Councils (NASC) will administer the Council. “I am ecstatic to have the privilege to represent the hearts of student leaders nationwide; it’s an honor that I will not take lightly,” said Anjali Verma, president of the National Student Council and a high school junior in West Chester, PA.

My voice matters. Seeking change is welcomed. I am supported. These three sentences best reflect my experience with NASC, NHS, and my role as a facilitator with NASSP’s Student Leadership Network on Mental Health and Well-Being. 

In education, May is a time of profound transition. As students eagerly anticipate the start of summer break or the culmination of their academic journeys, educators and those who support them often find themselves at a crossroads. They may teach a new subject next school year or change schools. A few may retire after a lifetime of service. Among those retiring this year are two state council executive directors: Colby Cochran from the North Carolina Association of Student Councils (NCASC), and Terri Johnson from the Missouri Association of Student Councils (MASC). We contacted them to discuss what they’ve learned and their profound impact on the lives of countless student council leaders.

Read our PBS op-ed highlighting the importance of NASSP’s National Student Council to help students solve the mental health crisis. Authored by Shreeya Gogia, an NASSP Student Leadership Network on Mental Health facilitator and a National Association of Student Councils member, she uses her experiences supporting students with mental health and NASSP survey data to make the case for more student voice at all levels of decision-making.

Principal Leadership talked with Tyler Dashner, NASSP’s managing director of growth strategy, and Ann Postlewaite, NASSP’s director of community, about the change from NatStuCo to NASC, as well as the new and exciting aspects of the program coming this year.

A dynamic student council can be your school’s greatest asset, and NASC is here to unlock its full potential. We’ve tailored NASC membership to deliver maximum value, ensuring that every school can provide their students with top-notch leadership opportunities and experiences. NASC isn’t just an investment; it’s a game-changer for your school and your students.

In this issue of Principal Leadership, I’m excited to share some big changes we have planned for our student council program, which has been known as NatStuCo for the last few years. But first, some history.

President Reagan spoke at the 1983 NASC Conference where he discussed his start in politics serving as the student body president of Dixon High School in Dixon, IL.