Most people at Mount Tahoma think ASB is all about spirit weeks, posters, and loud cheering in the gym. And yeah, that part is fun. But when you walk behind the scenes, you find out there’s a whole lot more happening—work that actually shapes the way our school feels every single day.

For my segment in The Tower, I wanted to show what students don’t usually see. So I talked with James Layman, the Director of AWSL, the organization that trains and supports ASB programs across Washington State. He sees student leadership from a bigger view, and he knows what goes into building a strong school community.

One thing he told me stuck with me. He said, “It really does become all about creating a culture and curating safety and engaging the school community.” That hit exactly what I wanted this story to show. ASB isn’t just planning events—it’s problem-solving, listening, and representing student voices. It’s budgeting, organizing, adjusting plans, and making sure activities include everyone, not just the loudest people in the room.

Layman also said, “When students feel connected and represented and valued, everything improves.” That connects directly to our Mount Tahoma values—belonging, community voice, empathy, and integrity. ASB isn’t perfect, but when it’s done right, it helps students feel seen. It helps create spaces where students can show who they are, honor their cultures, and express themselves, whether that’s through leadership, art, spirit days, or even quiet behind-the-scenes work.

Watching ASB from the outside makes it seem simple. Living it from the inside shows how much collaboration, courage, and creativity it takes. Students step up, make choices, and take responsibility for shaping the school experience the rest of us walk through every day.

In the end, ASB isn’t about the posters—it’s about the people. It’s about building a school where every student at Mount Tahoma feels like they belong. And when we focus on that, our whole community grows stronger.

Read more stories from The Tower