A New Year, A Wider Lens, A Call to Rise Together

Independent school scholars are shaped by the world they engage.

On Belonging, Visibility, and the Young Leaders Shaping What Comes Next

Our fourth-quarter social media sabbatical offered RIISE a rare and necessary pause. It gave us space to reflect on where we are as a community of Black and Brown families navigating belonging within independent schools.

Independent schools are often described as selective, insulated, and protected by mission and tradition. Yet even the most elite academic spaces are not immune to the social and political realities beyond their gates. They are microcosms of the world itself, full of promise, contradiction, challenge, and possibility.

That truth crystallized for me on a bitterly cold New Year’s Day as I watched one of our independent school scholars gently hold her little sister’s hand while descending the steps of New York City Hall to take her place among the honored guests at Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration. It was a historic moment for New Yorkers and for all of us watching, marked by speeches filled with compassion, courage, and bold visions for the future of one of the world’s most complex cities.

Once she reached the dais, the cameras seemed unable to look away. A young woman in a beige beret stood visibly moved as Public Advocate Jumaane Williams closed his inauguration address with raw empathy for his younger self and for every child who has ever questioned their worth or wondered whether fighting for a city, a school, or a future full of contradictions was worth it. His declaration, that as a little Black boy he was always worth it, landed with power and clarity. It reminded us that the work of belonging is deeply personal, profoundly political, and always necessary.

I know that young woman.

She texted me Happy New Year just days earlier. Her name is Amalie, and she is a bright, steady force. She expands the potential of every space she enters with intention, warmth, and brilliance. RIISE has been honored to witness her leadership in classrooms, at the Brown Butter Collective, and during our Girls on Fire Pitch Competition this past summer on Martha’s Vineyard. She shows us what it looks like when scholars are supported not only to succeed, but to transform the spaces around them.

As the saying goes, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Amalie’s family has played a powerful role in shaping who she is and who she is becoming. Their presence reminds us that excellence is nurtured through partnership, consistency, and advocacy long before graduation day.

There is no better moment than the start of a new year to reflect, recalibrate, and recommit.

As families enter the second half of the school year or begin the application journey, this is often the window when parents can right the ship, strengthen partnerships, and leverage their investment with clarity and confidence. Independent schools, even at their best, require engaged parent partners who show up with purpose and participate with intention.

At RIISE, we believe parental advocacy is not adversarial. It is essential.

Five RIISE Principles for Partnering With Schools in 2026

Show up.
Attend school events. Be visible. Be present.

Show out.
Share your time and talent, whether through broader community engagement or affinity spaces by design.

Show up.
Check in on your scholar’s academic, social, and emotional progress now, not just at year’s end.

Show up.
Identify key decision-makers. Ask thoughtful questions. Offer informed feedback.

Show out.
Exercise your influence as a parent to advocate for positive change for your child and for the wider community.

If you are looking for a trusted roadmap to navigate and negotiate your independent school journey, let RIISE be your GPS.

The path is clearer when you do not walk it alone.
The work is stronger when families and schools partner with intention.

The new year is calling. Let’s rise together.

If you are navigating an independent school journey and want to do so with clarity, confidence, and partnership, RIISE is here to guide you.

We work alongside families to help them understand school culture, strengthen parent-school relationships, and advocate effectively for their scholars at every stage. Whether you are applying, enrolled, or preparing for what comes next, you do not have to figure it out alone.

Schedule a conversation with RIISE and take the next step with intention.