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Speaker Bio
The official biography, credentials, topics, and engagement history for Dr. Brenda Ortiz McGrath, Ed.D., MSW — ready to copy into programs, agendas, and introductions.
Official Biography
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Dr. Brenda Ortiz McGrath, Ed.D., MSW is an educational leader, district administrator, consultant, author, and researcher who strengthens PK–12 systems — leadership, policy, social-emotional learning, student support, and family and community engagement — so that every student has a real path to success.
She currently serves as a PK–12 District Administrator for Chelsea Public Schools, leading social work, social-emotional learning, school mental health, grant development and management, data and continuous improvement, staff supervision, and community partnerships districtwide. She previously served as Principal of Waltham High School — the first Latina and first woman to lead the school in 53 years — and as the district's first Latina administrator.
She is the creator of the MijaLumbre Leadership Framework™, a culturally grounded model designed to strengthen the identity, voice, and leadership of Latina women, and the creator of CoreKind360 Family Connect. She is an elected Lynn School Committee Member At-Large, chairing both the DEI and Policy subcommittees.
Speaking Style
What her sessions are like
Dr. Ortiz McGrath's sessions blend research, lived experience, and practical systems-level strategy. Her early training as a social worker shapes how she presents — grounded in the real experiences of students, families, and educators, with strategy and humanity side by side.
Research meets real systems
Findings from her doctoral research and practice are translated into concrete moves districts can make — not theory left in the abstract.
Social work at the foundation
Her presentations carry a clinician's lens: student support, mental health, and family partnership treated as core leadership work, not add-ons.
Culturally grounded
Language, heritage, and lived experience belong at the center of leadership. Her work with bilingual, bicultural supports and the MijaLumbre Leadership Framework™ shapes the examples she brings to every audience.
Practical and usable
Attendees leave with frameworks they can apply — like knowing students by Name, Strength, and Story — and clear first steps for their own context.
People first, always
She builds toward systems that outlast a single leader and audiences that leave with more than inspiration: real strategies they can carry into Monday.
Credentials
Degrees, licensure, and training
Massachusetts educator licensure and professional preparation across education, leadership, and social work.
Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Educational Leadership & Supervision
American International College — 2026, GPA 4.0
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Boston College — 2006, clinical and school social work practice
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Wheelock College
Educational Leadership
University of New England — 2017–2018
Massachusetts Licensure
- Superintendent (Professional)
- Principal K–12
- School Adjustment Counselor
- Director of Pupil Personnel
- Director of School Counseling
- Attendance / Truancy Supervisor
Additional Training
Essential Elements of School Threat Assessment (On Demand)
Completed September 22, 2026 · 1.0 contact hour (online training).
Title IX Investigator
External certification training in Title IX investigation and compliance.
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)
Trained facilitator in de-escalation and crisis prevention practice.
Restorative & Mediation Practice
Training in restorative approaches, mediation, and conflict resolution programming.
Doctoral Research
Reducing Dropout Rates Through Social-Emotional Learning in Urban Public Schools: A Qualitative Document Analysis
Read the dissertation on ProQuest — Now published and available through ProQuest.
Fellowships
CASEL SEL Lead Fellow
2025–2026 cohort
LeadBoston Scholarship Recipient, YW Boston
2024–2025
Aspiring Latino Leaders Fellow, Latinos for Education
2023–2024
Influence 100 Fellow
Cohort 2 · 2020–2021
Topics
Speaking topics
Keynotes, workshops, panels, and professional learning sessions are shaped around your audience.
Engagement History
Past engagements
Filter by topic, year, role, or format to find the sessions closest to your event.
Showing 23 of 23 engagements
Presentations to explore
2- Presentation available
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Annual Networking Conference · 2026
Presenter, Chelsea Public Schools · Conference
Using a Continuous Improvement Cycle to Create Safe, Supportive Environments
A presentation on using a continuous improvement cycle to strengthen safe, supportive school environments.
- Date
- February 2026
- Presentation available
MASCA · 2024
Co-Presenter, Chelsea Public Schools · Conference
Using Tech to Support a Comprehensive Counseling Program
A presentation on how technology can support a comprehensive school counseling program and expand student access to mental health support. Co-presented with Scott Freschet, Co-founder of Alongside.
- Date
- April 2024
More speaking engagements
21
bryt Symposium 2026 — Navigating Toward Hope · 2026
Co-Presenter, Chelsea Public Schools · Conference
Reimagining Tier 1 Student Support with a Clinician-Developed AI Resource
Co-presented with Scott Freschet of Alongside. The session explored universal Tier 1 skill-building for students in grades 4–12, the distinct roles of AI for students and staff, and how a clinician-developed resource can complement human support and escalation pathways.
- Date
- March 2026
New York University — Master of Social Work Program · 2025
Guest Presenter · Guest Lecture
Tier 1 Mental Health Support and AI Tools in Schools
A discussion of how Tier 1 mental health supports and tools such as Alongside can help schools reach more students, while giving school social workers additional ways to support them.
- Date
- March 2025
CASEL · 2025
Co-Presenter, Chelsea Public Schools · Conference
CASEL 2025 Presentation
A collaborative presentation featuring Dr. Brenda Ortiz McGrath of Chelsea Public Schools, Dr. Elsa Friis of Alongside, and Justin Long of Instructure.
CASEL SEL Exchange · 2025 & 2026
Presenter · Conference
AI in Action: Explore Personalized SEL Through Research and Practice
Presented alongside national partners on the intersection of artificial intelligence, personalized social-emotional learning, research, and implementation in PK–12 schools.
- Date
- February 18–19, 2026
- Location
- Virtual · Central Time
The Urban Assembly — SEL 4 All Symposium · 2025
Presenter · Conference
Building a Comprehensive SEL Team-Based Model to Transform School Culture
Presented in New York City on building a comprehensive, team-based SEL model that transforms school culture — bringing district-level implementation strategy to the SEL 4 All Symposium.
- Date
- May 16, 2025
- Location
- Convene · 360 Madison Avenue · New York, NY
Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education · 2022
Invited Presenter · Conference
Presented Chelsea Public Schools' districtwide approach to social-emotional learning, behavioral health, mental health, wellness, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, highlighting clinical partnerships, community collaboration, funding strategies, and relationship-centered practice.
- Date
- September 20, 2022
- Location
- Massachusetts DESE · Malden, MA
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education · Multiple Engagements
Presenter & Workshop Facilitator · Workshop
Facilitated workshops and presentations for Massachusetts educators and leaders on social-emotional learning, mental health, student support, equity, and district systems of care.
National Center for School Mental Health Annual Conference · 2024
Presenter · Conference
Nuestra Comunidad: How One District Leverages Technology to Enhance a Community Mental Health Program
Presented Chelsea Public Schools' innovative use of technology, partnerships, and community-based supports to expand access to mental health services for students and families.
- Date
- December 5–7, 2024
- Location
- Hyatt Regency Orlando · Orlando, FL
Alongside National Panel · 2024
Panelist · Panel
School Mental Health in the Age of AI
Joined education and student-support leaders from across the country to discuss the opportunities, considerations, and future of artificial intelligence in school-based mental health.
- Date
- June 26, 2024
- Location
- Virtual panel
edWeb Mental Health & Wellness Week · 2024
Presenter · Webinar
Wellness Strategies for All: Support In and Out of the Classroom
Shared practical strategies for creating comprehensive systems of wellness and mental health support across school communities.
- Date
- August 1, 2024 · 12:00–1:00 p.m. EDT
- Location
- Virtual webinar
Alongside National Webinar
Featured District Leader · Webinar
Transforming a High-Needs Student Population with Innovative Mental Health Benefits
Presented Chelsea Public Schools' comprehensive approach to student mental health, SEL, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and innovative digital supports.
- Location
- Virtual webinar
Cartwheel
Panelist · Webinar
Evaluating the Efficacy of Your Mental Health Programs: Data-Driven Decisions for Student Success
Discussed the role of data, partnerships, implementation, and continuous improvement in building effective school-based mental health systems.
- Date
- November 12, 2024 · 12:00 p.m. EST
- Location
- Virtual webinar
Cartwheel Annual Convening · 2026
Panelist · Conference
Shared district leadership perspectives on expanding equitable access to mental health care, strengthening school-community partnerships, and implementing sustainable student-support systems.
- Date
- July 23, 2026
Massachusetts Association for Bilingual Education — Pre-Conference Advocacy Roundtable · 2026
Panelist / Presenter · Conference
Advocating for Multilingual Learners in 2026: From Fear to Facts
Joined education leaders in examining advocacy, equity, multilingual learner success, and the role of academic, social, and emotional supports in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- Date
- March 2, 2026 · 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Location
- Virtual roundtable
SpacesEDU — Growth Over Grades Podcast · 2025
Featured Guest · Podcast
Discussed comprehensive social-emotional learning, restorative practices, student well-being, family partnerships, and districtwide approaches to supporting the whole child.
- Date
- February 4, 2025
- Location
- Podcast
The 15 Minute Advocate · 2026
Television Guest · TV
Featured in a conversation about mental health, social-emotional learning, educational leadership, CoreKind360, and the importance of culturally responsive storytelling.
- Location
- Television interview
Dress to Empower Girls Summit — Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts · 2026
Guest Speaker · Community
Spoke with girls and young women about cultural identity, representation, perseverance, leadership, and the power of embracing their authentic voices.
Mental Health Walk — Millennium Latino Project & Old Soul Young World · 2026
Guest Speaker · Community
Addressed mental health awareness, reducing stigma, healing, community support, and the importance of culturally responsive mental health advocacy.
Lynn Public Schools ELPAC Community Event · 2026
Author & Guest Speaker · Community
Shared Mami's Coquí Song with multilingual families while speaking about representation, belonging, culture, literacy, identity, and the importance of children seeing themselves reflected in stories.
Demakes YMCA Student Leadership & College Access Program · 2025
Guest Speaker · Community
Spoke with young people preparing for college about identity, authenticity, leadership, goal setting, and choosing educational pathways aligned with who they are and who they hope to become.
Latinos for Education Fellowship
Presenter · Workshop
Presented a leadership narrative grounded in identity, lived experience, educational equity, and the systemic barriers affecting Latino students and educators.
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