Susan Waldrep, Student Council Advisor for Texas High School, was named the Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) 2016 Eddie G. Bull State Advisor of the Year during the opening session of the TASC Annual Conference in Arlington, Texas.
Waldrep has served as Texas High’s Leadership Teacher and Student Activities Coordinator for the past 15 years and has guided her council to eight consecutive National Gold Council of Excellence Awards and 28 consecutive District 19 Sweepstakes Awards. Additionally, the Texas High School Student Council has served as District President and Treasurer as well as TASC President, Vice President and Conference Coordinator School. They recently were elected as District Secretary School for 2016-17.
Waldrep’s leadership has been recognized through her selection as District 19 Advisor of the Year in 2011, Past President Advisor and recently as District Coordinator for 2014-16.
“The culture of the Texas High campus has been influenced under the leadership of Susan Waldrep,” said Brad Bailey, Principal. “Our students are engaged in the process of making our school the very best from working with administration on the student advisory committee and school spirit activities to helping their peers with tutoring and positive encouragements.”
“Susan has been a strong proponent of community service and helping others who are less fortunate. By being involved in countless service projects, our students have gained vital leadership skills on how helping others will give them an opportunity to build a strong and productive community,” Bailey continued.
Waldrep’s personal philosophy is to develop leadership through the “see, think, do” process. “I want my kids to see a need and know how to create a plan to meet the need,” she said.
“With a diverse school district, I do my best to teach them, regardless of their economic status, to think in terms of completion. When we have a project, I want them to look at why the project is important and then develop a plan from start to finish. Economic status should never hinder anyone from the philosophy of ‘see, think, do.’ ”
Waldrep believes that her strength is helping students feel comfortable to voice ideas and opinions so they can reach their potential. Her goal is to guide and lead the students.
According to Ben Norton, 2014 THS Student Council President and current Sophomore in the Business Honors Program at University of Texas at Austin, “Mrs. Waldrep is unrivaled in how much she cares about her students. I firmly believe the reason that Texas High’s Student Council program is so successful is because of her unique ability to inspire and relate to students of all backgrounds and interests. Mrs. Waldrep has been able to create a culture at THS that promotes being involved in the community through organizations like Student Council, and it is incredible to observe how much of an impact it has on the school’s students. I can honestly say that I’m a better, well-rounded person because I had her as a teacher and was able to be involved in her Student Council, and I can’t thank her enough for the many lessons that she taught me.”
The Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) is a non-profit organization serving high school and middle level student councils in Texas. Sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, TASC is the Texas Affiliate of the National Association of Student Councils. Its purposes are to develop leadership abilities in students, promote democracy as a way of life and establish and uphold high standards for local councils. Organized in 1937, TASC has grown to serve more than 1,340 member schools in Texas.
