Gary Chalmers

"Skinneeeeer!!!."

- Superintendent Chalmers' catchphrase

Superintendent Joseph Edgar Malcolm "Gary" Chalmers, is the superintendent of Springfield's school district.

Chalmers originally hails from Utica, New York, but has also said that he comes from Queens, New York, Mexico (in a deleted scene) and Intercourse, Pennsylvania. He attended Ball State University and is a proud owner of a red 1979 Honda Accord (and later, a Camry, which Otto Mann promptly wrecks). In the episode How The Test Was Won, Skinner mentions that Chalmers has a daughter.

Chalmers is a strict, no-nonsense, and largely humorless man, with a short temper and low tolerance for disorder or rule-breaking; his general manner and personality like that of a military officer. Whenever he visits Springfield Elementary, some sort of disaster strikes. He produces extreme anxiety in Principal Skinner, who offers increasingly improbable stories to explain what is happening. Chalmers is known for throwing open the doors to the room and bellowing "SKINNER!!!" or "SEYMOUR!!!", to which Seymour stammers "S-Superintendent Chalmers!". His catchphrase has caused some paranoia in Skinner. On a few occasions, he says Skinner's name this way when absolutely nothing has gone wrong, implying that he either pronounces Skinner's name this way by habit, or does it on purpose to scare him.

Chalmers's own competence and dedication to his job are questionable. He let Ned Flanders allow the school to descend into anarchy when he was principal, freely admitting that he had fired Skinner for far less, explaining simply that "Skinner really bugged me." In fact, the only reason Chalmers even allowed Skinner to be reinstated as Principal that time was because Ned Flanders exposed himself to have introduced prayer into the school, and thus was fired as a result (namely because Chalmers feels that religion should never be placed within school walls just as school or government shouldn't be placed in church walls). He seems disturbingly unconcerned with the school's decline, saying that "the way America's public schools are sliding, they'll all be like this in a matter of months. I say enjoy it — it's a hell of a toboggan ride!" He also promotes people based on personal bias as opposed to actual competence, promoting Principal Holloway, described by Skinner as a "drunk" and Chalmers as a "pill-popper", to assistant superintendent, overlooking the efforts made by Skinner to improve his school's standing.

When Springfield began erecting surveillance cameras around Springfield and 742 Evergreen Terrace, it is discovered to be a blind spot and transformed into a crowding place for rebellious activity, Superintendent Chalmers was spotted swinging nunchucks while prancing in a Tutu.

Chalmers was seen dating Agnes Skinner, much to Seymour's dismay (although in other episodes he has mentioned he is married).

Chalmers's sign is Sagittarius.

Edna and Chalmers were "doing it".


 * With the additional of overseeing Springfield Elementary School, he also oversees Waverly Hills since his job as school Superintendent has him travel all over Springfield. Hence, his sudden meeting with Seymour Skinner when Skinner tries to stop Bart and Lisa from attending Waverly Hills.

Non-Canon
In the episode "Future-Drama", which takes place in the future, the superintendent is practically a vegetable, only capable of saying his trademark line.

In a Simpsons Comic he states that he went to LSU.

In the DVD commentary to "22 Short Films About Springfield", Simpsons creators noted that Superintendent Chalmers seems to be one of the few "normal" characters on the show, and Chalmers is frequently alone in his awareness of the show's zaniness.

His first name was revealed to be Gary in Yokel Chords.