“We have been willing to share our story and not just the good stuff, not just the wins,” said Walsh, who leads a team of more than 30 engineers, project managers, and licensed trade professionals. “We’ve been very honest about our struggles and challenges and what we’ve learned from that.”

As home to the oldest public schools in the United States, Walsh said the District’s aging infrastructure can be challenging, but addressing those outdated systems also makes Boston’s efforts relatable. For example, Walsh managed the installation of 4,400 air quality sensors in schools districtwide and the creation of a public dashboard that provides real time data. The scale and scope of the initiative made BPS a world leader in school air quality management and led to Walsh’s recent presentation at the United Nations.

“What we are doing is leading by example and showing that this is still possible,” she said. “You can have good, healthy indoor air quality for your schools even when you may have old buildings, even when you may be facing strapped resources or deferred maintenance.”

Walsh, who grew up in West Roxbury and graduated from Boston Latin School, credits her teachers for fostering her love of science. Under her leadership, the District has received national recognition and numerous awards, leveraged $22 million in grant funding, and developed a prestigious research partnership with the Boston University School of Public Health.