On Thursday, May 30th, the School Committee appointed Dr. Sonia Dinnall as the new Superintendent of Schools. Dinnall will be the first woman and the first Black woman Superintendent to lead Springfield Public Schools. She succeeds Daniel Warwick, who will retire at the end of this school year.

Dinnall, a lifelong resident of Springfield and product of Springfield Public Schools, has been the Chief of Family and Community Engagement for the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership for the past year. Prior to this, she served as Principal of the High School of Commerce for three years and as Executive Director of College and Career Readiness for Hartford Public Schools for a decade. She began her career as an eighth-grade science teacher at Forest Park Middle School.

During her interview, Dinnall shared that she is keenly aware of the significance of this moment. "This is a full-circle moment for me, and I am honored and privileged to sit here this evening," she said.

Citing their desire for “bold new leadership,” the School Committee voted four to three in favor of Dinnall for Superintendent of Schools. School Committee member Latonia Monroe Naylor said Dinnall demonstrated careful strategic thought to moving the district forward. “The level of detail that is in this packet that she provided for us, I think is very commendable and it really speaks volumes to me about the intentionality of her strategy to improve this district,” said Monroe Naylor.

Dinnall said that as superintendent she will be committed to leveling playing fields, championing equity, and mitigating barriers.

"I am here because of our children and because I want to do what is best for children every day in every zip code," she said.