Our Mission Statement
The VSCA is a leadership learning organization of the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP) that serves student leaders from private and public schools throughout the Commonwealth.
The VSCA provides opportunities to practice the citizenship skills necessary for effective participation in our democratic society. Our organization encourages the formation, development and expansion of student councils in all schools in Virginia and among all students in grades kindergarten through high school.
Our principal goals are to
- instill American ideals, including the development of leadership and citizenship, among the youth of today;
- foster student leadership in a democratic environment;
- assist all Student Councils in becoming more effective organizations within their school, community, state and nation;
- promote student participation within the school and its community; and
- assist Student Councils and their leadership in focusing on relevant current problems that affect them and encouraging them to seek solutions to those problems.
Lyn Fiscus appointed VSCA Director
VASSP is pleased to announce that Lyn Fiscus has joined our team as the new Director of the Virginia Student Councils Association, effective July 1, 2021.
Lyn brings a wealth of experience in student leadership development to the directorship. She currently serves as Extracurricular Specialist for Loudoun County Public Schools. Lyn previously served as a leadership and social studies teacher and student government adviser at South Lakes High School in the Fairfax County School Division from 2015-2022 and was an active adviser in VSCA during that time. Prior to her teaching role she was editor from 1995–2007 of the award-winning Leadership for Student Activities, published for student council and National Honor Society advisers by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). She later served as an independent consultant to various student leadership groups at both the national and state level, including DECA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Technology Student Association (TSA), SkillsUSA, the Alliance for Student Activities, National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), National Middle School Association (NMSA), and state student council associations in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada.
“Lyn’s experience working with various state student council associations will be invaluable as we strive to develop new programs for VSCA to better serve our membership,” said Dr. Randy Barrack, VASSP Executive Director. “I am pleased to welcome her to a team that is focused on providing leadership experiences and opportunities to practice the citizenship skills necessary for effective participation in our democratic society.”
Lyn is the author of Adviser Essentials: Goalsetting (2013), Adviser Essentials: Project Planning(2010), Adviser’s Guide to Student Activities (2004), and Who Says You Can’t Change the World (1991). She served as editor/writer of the National Leadership Camp Leadership Curriculum Guide (1994) and is co-author with Dr. Earl Reum of The Bucks $tart Here: Fundraising for Student Activities(2007).
Lyn is the national recipient of the 2005 Earl Reum Award, given by the National Association of Workshop Directors (NAWD) in recognition of outstanding leadership and commitment to the promotion of excellence in student activities.
The VSCA goes back more than 100 years, all the way to 1905! Check out a short review of our history here.
The VSCA is divided into eight Regions. Here's the map and listing of each division by Region.
Check out the many services offered by the VSCA.
Our state bylaws and policies can be accessed here.