Teacher Spotlight: ISWA HS ASB Club Advisor, Elizabeth Lathrop

Creating a sense of belonging in an online school doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intention, student ownership, and educators who believe leadership can thrive anywhere. At Insight School of Washington (ISWA), High School Associated Student Body (ASB) Advisor, Elizabeth Lathrop, has helped make that vision a reality.

Now in her seventh year at ISWA, and her third year leading the High School ASB Club, Mrs. Lathrop brings more than a decade of experience from brick-and-mortar classrooms into the virtual space. Having taught everything from English and history to theater across middle and high school levels, she understands that student leadership looks different online but can be just as successful if not more powerful.

Based in Orting, near Puyallup, Mrs. Lathrop works closely with students across the state, guiding them as they plan events, celebrate achievements, and build school culture in meaningful ways.

Student Leadership Takes Center Stage

One of the hallmarks of ISWA’s ASB program is that students lead the work. ASB club members meet weekly for 30–60 minutes, and this year marks an exciting milestone: the ASB President now runs the meetings, setting agendas, guiding discussions, and helping shape priorities for the group.

“That’s the goal,” Mrs. Lathrop shared. “We want students to feel confident taking ownership, welcoming their peers, leading conversations, and seeing their ideas come to life.”

That leadership is already visible in events like virtual movie and game nights, which brought students together from across Washington before winter break, and in the planning now underway for ISWA’s in-person prom this spring. Students vote on prom themes, design visuals, choose decorations, and even help with setup. The perk: ISWA’s leadership supports them by securing the venue and a DJ.

Fundraising, Assemblies, and Celebrating the Whole Student

Beyond social events, ASB club students also learn responsibility and collaboration through fundraising and schoolwide initiatives. Last year, the group launched an online Double Good Popcorn fundraiser, which was so successful they’re bringing it back again this school year. The school provides a budget for decorations and logistics, while students manage promotion and participation. diversity club, and eventually into a welcoming social and gaming community that gives students a space to be themselves.

The HS ASB Club also hosts two schoolwide assemblies each year, celebrating not only Honor Roll achievements but also accomplishments outside the classroom: sports, clubs, creative pursuits, and leadership milestones. It’s a reminder that success comes in many ways.

An HS ASB Club President’s Perspective

For Ashton Ewing, ISWA’s High School ASB President, leadership is about connection. A 10th grader living in Silver Creek, Washington, Ashton has been enrolled in ISWA since elementary school and stepped into the ASB President role this year.

“Even though our club is small, it feels meaningful,” Ashton shared. “We meet every Thursday, and when we plan things like movie nights or assemblies, it feels good knowing we’re creating something that helps students feel connected.”

Ashton is also involved in National Honor Society, BPA, and SkillsUSA, and is already looking ahead to Running Start next year with long-term interests in dermatology and medical aesthetics. For her, the HS ASB Club is helping build confidence and leadership skills that extend far beyond high school.

Leadership from a Rural Community

That sense of impact resonates with Echo Taylor, ISWA’s High School ASB Secretary and a junior from Morton, Washington. After enrolling at ISWA in late 2024, Echo quickly became involved in student leadership, helping plan and host a virtual movie night that brought together about 20 students statewide for trivia, discussion, and shared conversation.

“ASB gave me a way to connect with students I might never have met otherwise,” Echo said. “Planning events together, even online, just makes school feel more personal.”

Echo is now helping lay the groundwork for ISWA’s 2026 in-person prom, blending virtual collaboration with real-world connection. For students in rural areas, that balance makes a real difference.

Leadership Without Limits

For Mrs. Lathrop, watching students grow into their roles is the most rewarding part of advising the HS ASB Club. “Online school doesn’t limit leadership; it expands it,” she said. “Our students are learning how to communicate, collaborate, and lead across distance, which are skills they’ll use long after graduation.”

Through the High School ASB Club, ISWA students are proving that community isn’t defined by a building. It’s built through shared online and in-person experiences, student voice, and educators who believe in giving learners a real seat at the table, no matter where they live or log in from.

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