Widely known as principal for 20 years of Boston’s Young Achievers Science and Math K-8 Pilot School following innovative work as both a teacher and administrator, Jinny Chalmers devoted her entire adult life to the pursuit of justice for children and families within the education system.

But it was more than a desire to teach and nurture that animated Jinny and inspired her life’s work. A fire blazed within Jinny— she championed racial justice and excellent, inclusive education for all students. And, with her ability and drive to harness her passion and put her ideas into practice, Jinny was a true changemaker.

More About Jinny

Jinny was a graduate of Tufts University (1973) and Tufts’ graduate program in Early Childhood Education (1976).

Her work as a classroom teacher and administrator at schools including the King Open, Elliot Pearson, and Bank St. College Children’s School pushed fellow educators toward new methodologies for reaching students.

Jinny championed experiential learning at Young Achievers, whose students explored environmental issues in Costa Rica and trekked around Boston to learn the story of their own city; and at the King Open School where she was a pioneer teacher in the early days of the Algebra Project.

In retirement, Jinny was part of the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative team, a project with Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Harvard Law School. Her work with the team on a new volume in the series Helping Traumatized Children Learn was focused on amplifying the voices of educators of color in trauma leadership. Jinny also mentored pre-service principals through the Harvard School Leadership Program.