The TEEN TRUTH: Principal Advisory Council

At TEEN TRUTH, we know that strong school leadership is the foundation of a positive and thriving campus culture. That’s why we created the Principal Advisory Council (PAC) — a student-centered initiative designed to connect administrators directly with the voices and ideas of their students. This unique program empowers principals to build trust, gain insight, and develop strategies that align with the real needs of their school community.

What is a Principal Advisory Council?

The Principal Advisory Council is a group of diverse student leaders who meet regularly with their principal to discuss school climate, challenges, and solutions. By bringing students to the table, principals gain valuable feedback that often goes unheard in traditional school settings. These conversations help guide decision-making around issues such as safety, academic support, student engagement, and social-emotional learning.

In order to help facilitate this effort, TEEN TRUTH will host a series of leadership summits during the school year. Summit #1 is an event focused on pulling your council together and empowering them to come up with solutions to address some of the top social-emotional issues on campus. Summit #2 is a follow up workshop hosted 1 – 3 months later and is focused on each individual student leader — asking how they can personally make a difference on your campus. Lastly, Summit #3 offered 1 – 3 months after Summit #2 recaps the progress the council has made during the year, and challenges them to come up with a service project that can support campus culture.

What is the Principal’s Involvement?

In-between each TEEN TRUTH visit you will meet with your council once a month as a way to invest in and build relationships with them. These monthly meetings could be as simple as pizza with the principal, bringing in a local politician to discuss community leadership, or hosting a brainstorming session on a school issue of your choice. In an effort to help, TEEN TRUTH has developed a list of 23 ideas to guide these meetings and support you as you build your PRINCIPAL’S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SCHOOL CULTURE.

Why Schools Benefit from the PAC

Schools that adopt a Principal Advisory Council often see increased student buy-in and improved campus culture. When students feel heard, they are more likely to take ownership of their actions and promote positive change among their peers. For principals, the PAC meetings provide a direct line of communication to better understand student perspectives, anticipate problems before they escalate, and collaborate on proactive solutions.

How TEEN TRUTH Supports Principal Advisory Councils

Our team works closely with schools to set up and facilitate successful PAC programs. From selecting diverse student representatives to creating structured agendas, we ensure principals get the most out of these sessions. Through a series of interactive leadership summits, TEEN TRUTH also provides leadership training, communication strategies, and follow-up activities so students walk away empowered to make a real difference on campus.

Building Student Leaders Through Collaboration

At the heart of the Principal Advisory Council is the belief that students are not just passive participants in their education, but active partners. By giving them a voice in leadership conversations, principals model collaboration and respect, while students gain real-world experience in problem-solving and decision-making. This combination creates stronger leaders, healthier relationships, and a more supportive school environment.

Start a Principal Advisory Council at Your School

If you’re ready to elevate student voice and strengthen your leadership team, TEEN TRUTH can help you launch a Principal Advisory Council that drives meaningful results. Together, we can create a safe, inclusive space for students and principals to work hand-in-hand toward building a school culture where every student feels valued and heard.