“New Teachers? I Didn’t Even Know the Last Ones!” Putting the Spotlight on Olsen and Brown and Their New Student Council Sponsor Roles.
Taken by Jenks Student Body Leadership
By: EJ Onley
Now that Danielle Henry and Alix Caruthers have stepped down from their Student Council roles, Erik Olsen and Alexa Brown, with the help of Teena Lowry, have stepped up. Where does that leave their reputation for this exemplary Student Council? Will they lose their long-time contacts during DUB Week? Or will they possibly help the whole student body as a whole grow closer together?
For those who might not be aware, Student Body Leadership is a class of students who plan Student Council meetings, pep rallies, dress-up days, DUB Week events, and even decide the recipient of all the funds raised during the philanthropy week. Officers and members are selected to be in this class through a rigorous application process. Olsen, one of the new StuCo sponsors, explains Student Body Leadership (SBL) as “what the cabinet is to the president.”
In the 2025-2026 school year, Jenks High School Student Council raised over fifty thousand dollars for Heroes Hope during their annual philanthropy initiative called “DUB Week” (Donate yoUr Best). Students got to play pickleball at Courts & Commons; watch their teachers get pied in the face; and race each other in a giant, inflatable obstacle course in the courtyard. In past years, they have raised money for all kinds of organizations, including Tulsa Hills Youth Ranch, their mental health initiative (Those hills that are now in the front lawn of the school? You can thank StuCo for those!), Make-A-Wish, and more.
Eric Olsen’s collection of Jenks High School staff trading cards
While all of these events and ideas were mainly planned by the Student Body Leadership class, they were also taught and helped by two incredible teachers: Henry and Caruthers. Alongside them, they had Olsen and Brown. These sponsors set the standards for Student Council and Jenks High School as a whole when looked at by community members and business owners.
This year, the new sponsors are Olsen and Brown with the support of Lowry. Olsen and Brown have helped in the past years, but more as extra help and “to keep the fun level up to connect with kids,” as Olsen puts it. The sudden new leadership figures raised some obvious questions, especially for students who planned on being in the class in the years to come–How would this change how the class runs?
Student Body Leadership students working hard on posters outside of Olsen’s room.
Tyse Cole, the current StuCo president, said a big difference he has seen so far “is a greater emphasis on schoolwide culture and a greater community.” He goes on to say that officers have been given more specific roles, which has contributed to organization and how efficiently the class has been running this year. “This year there is a rejuvenated positivity and excitement for all the class has to offer,” Cole said.
“My biggest goal is making sure that as SBL, we are putting out a good product to the Student Body and being inclusive towards everyone on campus,” said Brown, one of the new StuCo sponsors. She wants us to use this opportunity to be inclusive towards not just the student body, but also other clubs and organizations, and to just be positive and have an impact on not only the SBL students, but also the school.
New student in the SBL class, Olivia Forth, has loved being in the class so far, noting she “is meeting with people I wouldn’t have otherwise.” She loves the welcoming environment and thinks the sponsors “add to the overall morale because of their fun dynamic and how they view the class.” She can tell how committed the sponsors are and want to get more of the student body involved.
“I think every kid deserves to have a place where they feel welcomed and belong,” said Olsen. When asked about things that will not be changing, he emphasizes his plans to keep DUB Week and loves what Jenks does with philanthropy, but “we have a huge opportunity to pivot some of that focus to on-campus and really expanding on what Student Council the organization really is.”
After getting the points of view of all of those people, one thing is abundantly clear–the need for on-campus activities and student engagement. This is something that StuCo really has the chance to thrive in and really have an impact on the student body, especially those who might not be having a positive high school experience. If anyone has any ideas for on-campus activities that will boost student body engagement and can bring more people together, Olsen is always open to new ideas and strongly suggests that students email him any and every idea for how to get students involved and grow together as a community.
