Linda Pickett, student council adviser at Columbia High School in Columbia, IL, has been named the 2015 Warren E. Shull National High School Adviser of the year by the National Association of Student Councils.
Pickett is a special education teacher and has served as the Columbia High School (CHS) student council adviser for 12 years. During her tenure, Pickett has worked tirelessly to create a dedicated and impactful student council—growing its membership from 20 students to over 150 members.
Under her guidance, the CHS student council has hosted activities that bolster school spirit, benefit the less fortunate, and bring the entire student body together. One especially successful program is the League for Excellence, a student-driven committee that consists of a representative from each club in the school. The league meets regularly to come up with ways to improve the school climate and recognize students for positive behavior and academics.
Thanks to Pickett’s leadership, the CHS student council has been recognized as a National Gold Council of Excellence for six years in a row.
According to Columbia High School’s principal Jason Dandurand, Pickett goes far above the call of duty for her students. “As I walk the halls long after the school doors have closed, I can often observe Mrs. Pickett working diligently in her classroom on initiatives to better our students and school,” Dandurand said. “Her dedication and passion to education in preparing our students for the future is second to none.”