Lindsa McIntyre, a Dorchester native and headmaster of Jeremiah E. Burke High School, has been named as a finalist for Mayor Walsh’s EXTRAordinary Women of Boston Project. The project was established in June 2014 through the city’s Office of Women’s Advancement, which seeks to creates social, economic, and political equity for the women of Boston.

Nominated for her unwavering focus on the faculty and staff, students, and parents at the Burke as well as her commitment to developing new leaders, McIntyre is feeling bullish about the school’s future.

“The children at the Burke who were once underperforming are now succeeding,” said McIntyre. “We’re closing the gap, changing the culture and community of the school, we’re equitable and we are giving students what they need to be successful, and not just in the curriculum, but creating meaningful opportunities for them to learn.”

McIntyre and her team have paved pathways for gaming and tech, established nursing collaborations with Regis College and Boston Medical and created a chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers where students are competing across the globe in Math and science and robotics.

McIntyre, who has held every school level position imaginable, has been headmaster at the Burke since the 2009-10 academic year. She is a former BPS student herself, who had to face and overcome adversity of her own. She leans on her own prior experiences from her days as a Dorchester High student to support students who are struggling today.

“As a freshman, Dorchester High at that time had what was called an annex, and it was separate from the main chambers. I was placed in the annex, and the cafeteria and the gym were the same, they had cold, boxed lunches, and it was substandard,” recalls McIntyre. “All of my friends were in the main building and I tried very hard to get a transfer so I would have equitable access to the same access my friends had access to.”

Denied a transfer, McIntyre went to Cambridge Academy for her sophomore and junior year and returned to Dorchester High her senior year.

“It was my home school, my community, and where all my supports were so I wanted to be a part of that,” she said.

“I am committed to believing that all children can learn. Diverse and marginalized children who have been left out of the equation can learn when given access and opportunity. They can do incredible things,” she said.

Mayor Walsh’s EXTRAordinary Women of Boston Project will feature the finalists throughout the month of March on Facebook. To learn more about these extraordinary women, please visit facebook.com/boswomen/timeline.