LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Board of Education officially welcomed its newest student member Wednesday, introducing rising Leonardtown High School senior Isabella Derisavi as the student representative for the 2026-27 school year.
Derisavi, who will represent approximately 17,000 students in St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said her tenure will focus on strengthening student representation, improving communication between students and the Board of Education, and ensuring students have a more active role in decisions affecting their schools.
“I will work directly with students to address the specific, distinctive needs of each individual school, ensuring student voices are included in every major decision,” Derisavi said.
The Board of Education appoints a student member each year to represent students during board discussions and deliberations.
Derisavi has attended St. Mary’s County Public Schools since elementary school, attending Greenview Knolls and Lexington Park elementary schools before enrolling at Spring Ridge Middle School and Leonardtown High School.
She currently serves as an ex officio executive board member of the St. Mary’s County Association of Student Councils, where she previously served as secretary and treasurer.
Derisavi said she hopes to better understand and represent the unique needs of students throughout the school system.
“Attending multiple schools across the county has given me a firsthand, deeply personal perspective on the distinct challenges and opportunities that many students around our county face,” Derisavi said. “I deeply love the school community, and I cannot wait to begin giving back.”
Derisavi said her work during the coming school year will be guided by four priorities: preparation to serve, open communication, expanding representation and improving access to information.
Among her planned initiatives is a monthly digital feedback initiative that will allow students to share their perspectives on topics including mental health, financial challenges, athletics, the arts and resource disparities between schools. She also plans to continue classroom visits while expanding opportunities for students to provide direct feedback.
“Students must never feel intimidated to speak their minds on the issues that impact them,” Derisavi said. “Their ideas matter.”
She also said she plans to make Board of Education business more accessible by continuing short “Monthly Minute” social media updates summarizing board meetings for students who may not have time to watch full meeting recordings.
“Students have the right to understand policy that is affecting them directly,” Derisavi said. “With homework and extracurriculars, there’s not much time to watch a full board meeting.”
Derisavi encouraged students throughout the county to contact her with questions, concerns and ideas during the school year.
“I want to close the information gap between the school board and the student body,” Derisavi said. “This role has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you.”
Students can contact Derisavi through the Student Member of the Board Instagram account, @smcps_smob, or by email at iderisavi@smcps.org.
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