The Richardson Rotary Club

February 9, 2026: RISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum – State of the District
 

With more than 25 years of experience in Texas education, Tabitha Branum is an experienced leader committed to student success through research-based and innovative practices.

In August 2022, Branum was named the 20th superintendent of Richardson Independent School District (RISD), following her service as interim superintendent. Before assuming this role, she spent eight years serving RISD families as assistant superintendent of secondary schools and later as deputy superintendent, where she led curriculum, instruction, and district operations while developing RISD’s five-year strategic plan.

Branum’s career spans classroom teaching, school leadership, and curriculum innovation. She began as a teacher in Coppell ISD in 1997, later leading the design and launch of New Tech High School in Coppell. A respected presenter and skilled grant writer, she has driven instructional improvements in both Coppell and Richardson. She also co-authored Digital Learning: Meeting the Challenges and Embracing the Opportunities for Teachers.

A dedicated member of the RISD community, Branum and her family reside in the district. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in educational administration from the University of North Texas. Her contributions to education have earned her notable recognition, including the National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award (2022), Altrusa International’s Outstanding Woman of Today (2023), and the Chairman’s Award from the Richardson Chamber.

Branum actively shapes educational policy and initiatives and believes in giving back to our community through her involvement in organizations that enhance public education. She serves on the boards of the UIL Region 20 Music Executive Committee, the Texas Academic Decathlon and Junior Achievement of Dallas. She is a Director for the Texas Association of Suburban and Mid-Urban Schools (TAS/MUS) and sits on the Board of Advisors for the Phone-Free Schools Movement and the SMU Master of Public Policy Advisory Committee.

Passionate about public education, Branum is dedicated to ensuring that all students graduate prepared to navigate a future they create.

February 16, 2026: Mike Bromberg – UTD Professor, and Comedy Enthusiast

 

Professor of Communications at the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson. After college, I drove across the country and started performing as a standup comic. During that time I also went to graduate school and earned a Masters in Communication Studies. I've worked as a counselor at a county crisis center (suicide hotline) which is an interesting gig if you are also a comedian. I speak on positive psychology as well as other leadership and motivational topics. I am a professor at UTD where I teach public speaking. I have had experience with the financial world (Long Term Care and retirement planning), with the insurance world, with the legal world (process server for an investigation company), with the theater world as an actor, and worked in real estate.