Influencer Editorial Team
Brenda Ortiz McGrath, MSW, has been honored with the Visionary Leader Award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2025, celebrating her trailblazing impact at the intersection of education, mental health, and equity. A nationally recognized voice with nearly two decades of experience, Brenda has redefined what it means to lead in public education—merging innovation with heart, and systems change with deep community commitment.
“I’ve dedicated my career to building systems that center the whole student—not just their academics, but their mental health, their identity, and their sense of belonging. Being named Visionary Leader of the Year is not just a personal honor—it’s a recognition of what’s possible when you lead with purpose, push boundaries, and never lose sight of who you’re fighting for.”
— Brenda Ortiz McGrath
Brenda’s work is grounded in the belief that education must be restorative, not just instructional. As a district leader in Chelsea Public Schools, Massachusetts, USA, she has introduced groundbreaking models that bring telehealth and AI-powered mental health services into schools—making Chelsea the first district in the state to offer this level of real-time, tech-enabled wellness support. Her work has set a precedent for what forward-thinking, student-centered systems can achieve statewide. Previously, Brenda made history as the first Latina administrator in Waltham and later as the first woman and Latina principal in the 54-year history of Waltham High School. Today, her leadership continues to center equity and healing, particularly for underserved and first-generation students.
She is also the CEO and Founder of Innovate.Lead.Elevate and the visionary behind CoreKind360, a first-of-its-kind platform that weaves together social-emotional learning (SEL), academic planning, and family engagement. CoreKind360 reflects Brenda’s belief that school systems must be rebuilt to truly serve every student, every family, and every community by embedding academic readiness, emotional wellness, and equity directly into the foundation of educational practice. As the leader who pioneered the first districtwide integration of AI-powered mental health technology in Massachusetts through her work in Chelsea Public Schools, Brenda demonstrates how innovation and compassion can work together to meet urgent student needs with immediacy, equity, and care. CoreKind360 continues to gain national attention for its potential to translate data, strategy, and community voice into a seamless, daily experience for educators and students. Whether designing sustainable structures through MTSS integration, leading SEL-driven initiatives, or amplifying the voices of historically underserved communities, Brenda’s work is about building the future—not adjusting the past—and creating systems that heal, elevate, and empower every learner, every day.
Beyond her systems work, Brenda is deeply invested in grassroots change. She serves as Vice President of the Lynn Hispanic Scholarship Fund, helping first-generation students access higher education, and is currently running for local office as a candidate for the Lynn School Committee in Massachusetts, USA. Her advocacy also spans multiple national boards focused on culturally responsive technology, education equity, women’s rights, and mental health reform.
Brenda Ortiz McGrath is not just imagining the future of education—she is building it. Her leadership exemplifies innovation with integrity and progress with purpose. From classrooms to communities, her vision is already changing lives and setting new standards for what is possible. Congratulations, Brenda. Your work reminds us that true leadership starts with courage, community, and a commitment to those too often left behind.
