LYNN — School Committee member Brenda Ortiz McGrath was named one of The Educator’s Room Top 50 Educators for 2026, a national recognition honoring educators who make meaningful impacts in schools and communities across the country.
Founded in 2012, The Educator’s Room is a digital platform committed to amplifying educator voices and positioning classroom teachers as experts in educational reform, according to the press release.
Rooted in decades of experience in urban public education, Ortiz McGrath’s work emphasizes the intentional alignment of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) with rigorous curriculum and instruction. She underscores that SEL is not a separate initiative but a framework that supports effective teaching by strengthening student engagement, persistence, and access to high-quality academic learning.
Her work focuses on supporting educators and school systems in implementing Tier 1 and Tier 2 practices with clarity and consistency, reinforcing culturally responsive learning environments while maintaining clear boundaries between professional practice and public service.
“This is The Educator’s Room’s second year selecting educators nationally that focus on strong school-related practices in supporting students and families alike. I was nominated, and wasn’t aware until I received communication telling me I was selected for the top 50… What they do is provide resources, information, and also reading materials. They focus on trauma-informed practices, educators’ well-being, as well as course information. It’s an organization that focuses on empowering teachers as experts,” McGrath explained.
She added, “Being Latina has shaped my values as an educator and leader in profound ways. It has instilled in me a deep respect for family, culture, and community, and a responsibility to ensure that schools are spaces where all students feel seen, supported, and valued. That lens has influenced my commitment to equity, family engagement, and whole-child education throughout my professional journey.”
She said it was an honor to be recognized among a pool of more than 500 applicants. She noted the organization typically gets around 250 applicants.
“They celebrate and recognize educators that go beyond the classroom to create meaningful, inclusive, and transformative learning experiences for students while impacting their schools and the broader community,” she said. “I started off as a former high school principal. I’ve been an educator for over 20 years.
“I began as a school-based social worker and have been in leadership positions for the past 12 years… I am a very macro-focused person, and I do both to do district work for Chelsea schools and speak at a national level on Social-Emotional Learning practices,” she said.
She noted she’s spoken in places like New York and California and has been part of a larger network to ensure she’s reaching educators beyond Massachusetts.
“In July, through a UK magazine, I was named as a visionary leader globally, and I was featured in Times Square in New York… For me, it’s just an honor to be recognized. It’s the work that I love. It’s definitely a labor of love in making sure that we’re evolving and being innovative in our practices, but also that we’re continuously focusing on improving student outcomes, as well as empowering families,” McGrath said.
McGrath continued, explaining how she balances local service with national education work.
She said that through her commitment as an elected official, her priority is to make sure she’s giving back to her community.
“It’s my first term, and I’m fully committed to the role. For me, it’s making sure that I’m always being mindful of the work that I’m committed to locally, but being able to provide opportunities to expand that knowledge beyond the state… The national work doesn’t happen on a monthly basis; it comes sporadically.”
She added that she likes to practice what she preaches when it comes to educators’ self-care, making sure that they aren’t overstretching themselves when it comes to producing strong student outcomes.
“I’m currently doing my dissertation on Social-Emotional Learning, focusing on urban districts. Looking at the correlation, I think sometimes we can be reactive in nature. Something happens, and we react… But I really believe that prevention work will improve student outcomes in the long run, but this work takes time. For me, it’s about improving the strong tier-one practices within classrooms,” she said.
She also launched a website, corekind360families.com, which is a family-focused SEL platform designed to support children from PK–12 by strengthening emotional well-being, positive behaviors, and family connection at home. Built with families in mind, the platform helps caregivers understand their child’s social-emotional growth, build daily routines, and support success in school and life, according to its mission statement.
