What does it take to make the RISD experience better for every student? Sometimes, the best place to start is by asking the students themselves.
That’s the work ahead for RISD’s 2026–27 The Impact 12 (TI-12) student advisory group — three from each of RISD’s four comprehensive high schools — have been selected by their campus leaders to represent the voices, experiences and perspectives of their fellow students.
With nearly 2,400 seniors across RISD, being selected for TI-12 is an opportunity to lead, listen and make an impact beyond their own campuses.
The 2026–27 TI-12 members are Eden Ramirez, Brandon Rojas and Drew Sharlow from Berkner High School; Riley Koshkin, Muntasir Manzur and Lucy Walne from Lake Highlands High School; Orlando Merlan, Tori Ham and Faira Francis from Pearce High School; and Egan Sawyer, Sarah Edwards and Inara Rahman from Richardson High School.
At their first official gathering, the students spent time getting to know one another, talking about their senior year experiences and sharing where they are in the college application process and what they hope to study after graduation.
Superintendent Tabitha Branum challenged the students to think about what leadership really means — and how they can use their voices to make a difference.
“Leadership is not about a title,” said Branum. “How are you using your voice to make things better and improve? Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
For TI-12, leadership will mean more than sharing their own opinions. It will mean listening to others, looking for patterns and turning what they hear into meaningful action.
The students began that work by creating an affinity map reflecting on their Pre-K–12 experiences, identifying areas of celebration as well as opportunities for growth. That conversation launched their yearlong challenge: How might we make the RISD student experience better for our peers?
Throughout the year, TI-12 students will see RISD through the eyes of their peers. They will visit schools across all four learning communities, observe classrooms and student experiences, ask questions, listen to what students are saying and capture what they learn.
They’ll look at what is working well, where students are facing challenges, what could improve their experience and how RISD can continue preparing students for their futures.
Each experience will help determine what they do next. The students will identify areas of focus, listen for common themes and develop ideas or recommendations based on what they learn. Ultimately, TI-12 will present their work to RISD’s Leadership Cabinet, giving district leaders a direct look at what students are experiencing and what they believe could make RISD even better.
This work also connects directly to RISD’s North Star Goal: Every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goals. As Superintendent Branum reminded the students, their perspectives are essential to helping the district understand what changes and improvements are needed to better serve students.
“We want to hear from those closer to the North Star Goal — students,” she shared.
That is what makes TI-12 such an important leadership experience. These students aren’t simply learning about leadership — they are practicing it. They are learning how to use their voices, seek out different perspectives, identify opportunities and help shape solutions.
For more than 20 years, TI-12 has provided RISD students with an opportunity to sit at the table and help make a difference. This year’s students will carry that tradition forward while bringing their own experiences, ideas and vision for the future.
RISD is the ONE where students are not only prepared for their futures but are given opportunities to lead, contribute and help shape the experiences of their peers.
And for these 12 student leaders, the work is just beginning: listening, learning, leading and making an impact.
