BPS Celebrates Superintendent Mary Skipper as 2026 Pinnacle Award Honoree

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Network selected Superintendent Mary Skipper as one of the 2026 Pinnacle Awards honorees.

Boston Public Schools Celebrates Superintendent Mary Skipper as 2026 Pinnacle Award Honoree

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 5, 2025 -The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Network selected Superintendent Mary Skipper as one of the 2026 Pinnacle Awards honorees for Achievement in Management – Government. The annual Pinnacle Awards are one of the region's highest professional distinctions for women leaders, recognizing their achievements in business, government, and management. This prestigious award recognizes Superintendent Skipper's leadership and her commitment to building a stronger, more equitable school district for Boston's students, families, and educators.

"It is an honor to be recognized alongside so many remarkable women leaders who are shaping the future of our region," said Superintendent Mary Skipper. "It takes a village to support our school communities and this award reflects the dedication of our educators, staff, families, and partners who work every day to uplift our students. Boston's youth deserve the very best and I am proud to lead a district of talented leaders and educators who are deeply committed to their success."

Since her selection by the Boston School Committee in 2022, Superintendent Skipper has championed transformative initiatives to modernize school facilities, expand multilingual education, strengthen pathways from school to career, and ensure that every student receives a high-quality education in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment.

Superintendent Sipper will be recognized at the 2026 Pinnacle Awards Ceremony on January 30, 2026, where more than 1,200 business, civic, and community leaders will gather to celebrate this year's honorees.

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About Boston Public Schools

The Boston Public Schools (BPS), the birthplace of public education in the United States, serves more than 48,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students in 121 schools. BPS is committed to transforming the lives of all children through exemplary

teaching in a world-class system of innovative, welcoming schools. We partner with the community, families, and students to develop in every learner the knowledge, skill, and character to excel in college, career, and life.

About the Chamber’s Women’s Network

In the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Network, there is a diverse group of more than 3,000 women and male allies at all levels of their careers, from all backgrounds, sectors, and industries, and professions, with the collective mission to make Greater Boston the best place for professional women to thrive. For 30 years, the Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all backgrounds and career levels. The Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women.

About the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is the convener, voice, and advocate of the region’s business community, committed to making Greater Boston the best place for all businesses and all people to thrive. We help our members and Greater Boston succeed by convening and connecting the business community; researching, developing and advocating for public policies that contribute to our region’s economic success; and providing comprehensive learning and development programs designed to grow strong business and civic leaders. Learn more at BostonChamber.com.

Grade Reconfigurations

In 2019, the Boston School Committee approved a policy to primarily shift to a K-6/7-12 or K-8/9-12 system.

Our goal is to create fewer transitions for students to minimize the disruption to learning that transitions can create. By reconfiguring our schools to a predominantly PreK-6 or 7-12 configuration, we will create more opportunities for seamless pathways for elementary and secondary school students.

The district is also seeing increased demand for PreK and Kindergarten seats in some schools, while also seeing some PreK-8 schools experiencing under-enrollment at grades 7 and 8. In some cases, reconfiguring PreK-8 schools to become PreK-6 schools allows us to create more PreK seats, while ensuring more of our middle grade students are in fully-enrolled fully-resourced classrooms.

Recently Announced Grade Reconfigurations

Dr. William W. Henderson Inclusion School

Maurice J. Tobin Elementary School

Grade Reconfiguration Information
- The district will be informing the Boston School Committee that we will be reconfiguring the Tobin from a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 school to a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 6 school. This means that beginning in the fall of 2027, Tobin will no longer serve students in Grades 7 and 8.
- Based on current enrollment trends, the district is also projecting classroom changes for the 2026–2027 school year. One 3rd-grade classroom and one 7th-grade classroom are expected to close at the end of the 2025–2026 school year to ensure that staffing and resources remain aligned with student needs.
- Additionally, Tobin has been identified as a priority site for future Pre-K expansion. This winter, the Capital Planning team, the Facilities Department, and the Planning and Analysis team will conduct building walkthroughs to assess space needs and determine the requirements necessary to support this expansion.
- The decision to reconfigure Tobin from a Pre-K–8 school to a Pre-K–6 school is based on a careful review of enrollment patterns, the availability of seats in nearby secondary schools for Grades 7 and 8, and our districtwide goal to reduce transitions between schools by shifting most elementary schools to serve Grades Pre-K–6 and secondary schools to serve Grades 7–12.
  The school will be assigned a Senior Project Manager from the Capital Planning Team to help respond to the day-to-day needs of the school community in anticipation of this change. Stipended school-based Transition Support Coordinator will also be hired to assist with the transition process.
- The district will work hand in hand with Tobin School leadership to provide support for seamless transition for the school communities.

Upcoming Community Engagement
- District-Wide Survey (open from November 17, 2025 to December 7, 2025)
- In-Person Community Meeting
  - Date: TBD
  - Time: TBD
Materials
- Tobin Elementary School Virtual Community Meeting (November 17, 2025)
  - Slidedeck (English)
  - Zoom Recording
- Tobin Elementary School In-Person Community Meeting (TBD)
  - Slidedeck (English)

William E. Russell Elementary School

Grade Reconfiguration Information
- The district will be informing the Boston School Committee that we will be reconfiguring the Russell from a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5 school to a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 6 school. This means that beginning in the fall of 2026, the Russell will begin serving students in Grade 6.
- To support this transition, and based on current enrollment trends, the district is projecting several classroom adjustments for the 2026–2027 school year. At the end of the 2025–2026 school year, the Russell School will eliminate one K1 classroom, one K2 classroom, and one 1st-grade classroom in order to add two 6th-grade classrooms. These changes will ensure that staffing and resources remain aligned with student needs and fully support the school’s expanded grade configuration. Expanding to Grade 6 will also reduce the number of school transitions for students and bring the Russell into alignment with the School Committee’s grade configuration policy.
- The school will be assigned a Senior Project Manager from the Capital Planning Team to help respond to the day-to-day needs of the school community in anticipation of this change. Stipended school-based Transition Support Coordinator will also be hired to assist with the transition process.
- The district will work hand in hand with Russell School leadership to provide support for seamless transition for the school communities.

Upcoming Community Engagement
- District-Wide Survey (open from November 17, 2025 to December 7, 2025)
- Virtual Community Meeting
  - Date: TBD
  - Time: TBD
- In-Person Community Meeting
  - Date: TBD
  - Time: TBD

Grade Reconfigurations In Progress

School Year 2026-2027

School Year 2026-2027

Boston Teachers Union Pilot K-8 School
- School Year 2026-2027: Will serve Grades PreK-6 (previously served Grades K-8).
- Materials:
  - Boston Teachers Union Pilot K-8 School Community Meeting (February 4, 2025)
    - Slidedeck (English)
    - Zoom Link

Mary Lyon K-8 School
- School Year 2026-2027: Will serve Grades PreK-6 (previously served Grades K-8).
- Materials:
  - Mary Lyon Pilot High School & Mary Lyon K-8 School Community Meeting (January 21, 2025)
    - Slidedeck (English)
    - Zoom Link
  - Mary Lyon In-Person Community Meeting (February 25, 2025)
    - Slidedeck (English)

Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School
- School Year 2026-2027: Will serve Grades PreK-6 (previously served Grades K-8).
- Materials:
  - Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School Community Meeting (February 5, 2025)
    - Slidedeck (English)
    - Zoom Link

School Year 2025-2026

Dearborn STEM Academy

School Year 2025-2026: Will serve Grades 7-12 (previously served Grades 6-12).
Materials:
- Dearborn STEM Academy Community Meeting (February 6, 2025)
  - Slidedeck (English)
  - Zoom Link

Gardner Pilot Academy

School Year 2025-2026: Will serve Grades PreK-6 (previously served Grades PreK-8).
Materials:
- Gardner Pilot Academy Community Meeting (May 14, 2024)
  - Slidedeck: English | Español | العربية | Cabo-Verdiano | 中文 | Français | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Português | Soomaali | Tiếng Việt

James W. Hennigan School

School Year 2025-2026: Will serve Grades PreK-6 (previously served Grades K-8).
Materials:
- James W. Hennigan School Community Meeting (May 13, 2024)
  - Slidedeck: English | Español | العربية | Cabo-Verdiano | 中文 | Français | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Português | Soomaali | Tiếng Việt
- James W. Hennigan School Community Meeting (May 28, 2024)
  - Slidedeck: English | Español | العربية | Cabo-Verdiano | 中文 | Français | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Português | Soomaali | Tiếng Việt
- Update Letter and Appendix Documents for the Hennigan and West Zone ELC School Communities (June 14, 2024)
  - English | Español | العربية | Cabo-Verdiano | 中文 | Français | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Português | Soomaali | Tiếng Việt

Rafael Hernández Dual Language School

School Year 2025-2026: Will serve Grades PreK-6 (previously served Grades PreK-8).
Materials:
- Rafael Hernández Dual Language School Community Meeting (May 15, 2024)
  - Slidedeck: English | Español | العربية | Cabo-Verdiano | 中文 | Français | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Português | Soomaali | Tiếng Việt

School Year 2024-2025

City of Boston

CONTACT

Capital Planning Department

capitalplanning@bostonpublicschools.org