Whether they are sitting in the corner watching over students or actively participating in discussions and planning, club advisers play an essential role in school clubs.
According to BHS’ website, forming a club requires three or more students willing to join and a teacher willing to advise. However, some teachers go above and beyond what is required of them and help to create a flourishing community of students.
For over a decade, history teacher Kate Leslie has been an adviser for the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club (GSA), now called the Queer Student Union (QSU). According to Leslie, in her role as adviser, she organized events such as the Day of Dialogue and started the creation of Integrated Wellness for the 10th-grade class. Leslie said that being an adviser for the club has allowed her access to the resources needed to expand the LGBTQ+ programs.
Art teacher Sabine Strauch is another adviser for the QSU Club. She said advising the club has been a fun experience and has received lots of support from teachers. Strauch said the club allowed her to get to know students across all different diasporas within the school.
“It’s been great to get to meet students outside of my classes and interact with students in the LGBTQ community, as well as generally just meet students who are not necessarily taking art, and get to interact with students on a different level than being the teacher,” Strauch said.
English teacher Kevin Wang, the adviser to Asian Pacific American Club (APAC), uses his role to plan events and gatherings for students and assist student leaders in planning events for every X-block. According to Wang, his job consists of coordinating with people across the school to help his students.
“As the adviser, my role is to take in everything that they’re saying and say ‘Yes, we can do that.’ And if we can’t do that, what are the ways that I can support you?” Wang said.
Outside of school, Wang has Zoom meetings with student leaders to make plans for events and in-club activities. During X-block, his role is to participate with the students in club activities and discussions, yet also allow the students to take the lead in discussions and activities. The Lunar New Year’s celebration performance was an example of students taking the initiative to put on and organize a performance.
“From the set-up to the performances to the lead-up to it, all of the work is voluntary. There’s no real sort of compensation grade-wise or financially or anything for kids to do anything related to that big event. And they, on the whole, do it just out of the sheer goodness of their heart and free time and dedication to it.” Wang said.
Biology teacher Sarah Hemphill advises the Neuroscience Club. She is also the advisor for the Mental Health Club during X-block and the BioBuilder Club during faculty collaboration time. The students in these clubs decide for themselves what projects they are interested in and present those chosen topics to other members of the club over the year. Hemphill’s role as an adviser is to provide and help create a space for students to explore their passions through their involvement in clubs.
“Students have lots of curiosities and really do like to learn when given their own runway and time and space to learn things. There are all kinds of different curiosities and interests that are fun to see play out in clubs,” Hemphill said.
Wang said he works very hard to give the students both the support they need and also the freedom to take on as much responsibility as they like and be successful on their own.
“I’m just trying to do my best to mentor and guide students in a direction where they feel like it’s positive and just to support them,” Wang said. “And so it’s like an extra consideration that goes beyond teaching. It’s more than just sitting in a room. It’s more of dealing with people and trying to help them out with whatever might be going on.”
