Dr. Dinnall is a nationally recognized educational leader committed to implementing strategies that address inequities and bridge learning gaps in student achievement. With over thirty years of experience in education, she has excelled as a classroom teacher, school leader, and administrator. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first woman and first Black woman to serve as superintendent in the history of Springfield Public Schools.

Dr. Dinnall, a proud native and lifelong resident of Springfield, MA, has deep roots in the Springfield Public Schools system. She gained her educational foundation at Memorial, Talmadge, Warner, and Kiley schools, and she is an alumna of Classical High School.

Dr. Dinnall embarked on her educational career as a science teacher with SPS in 1991, starting at Forest Park Middle School. She advanced to become a guidance counselor, eventually assuming the role of Guidance Department chair before transitioning to a district-level position in 2007. In her administrative capacity, she held the positions of Acting Director of Student Support Services and Supervisor of Student Support Services between 2007 and 2010.

From 2010 to 2020, Dr. Dinnall advanced her career while refining her expertise as an administrator within the largest public school district in Connecticut, Hartford Public Schools. During this time, she held the positions of Assistant Director of Post Secondary Education from 2010 to 2012, and Executive Director of College and Career Readiness from 2012 to 2020. During her tenure at HPS, she was responsible for the strategic planning, coordination, and execution of professional development activities, events, and initiatives.

She demonstrated adept leadership and fostered collaborative relationships across various departments to ensure the allocation of resources and provision of support aligned with the unique needs of each school.

During her tenure at HPS, she achieved significant success, including historic increases in SAT participation rates district-wide, securing multi-million-dollar district funding, enhancing teacher resources and services, leading to a reduction in Special Education referrals, and an increase in cohort graduation rates, post-secondary acceptance, and post-secondary persistence.

Dr. Dinnall gained widespread recognition in Hartford due to her exceptional expertise in pedagogy, earning national acclaim, particularly from the Obama Administration. Subsequently, she was extended an invitation to serve as a panelist at the White House's Convening for College Access. In 2020, Dr. Dinnall demonstrated resilience in addressing the educational challenges brought about by the pandemic. She resumed her tenure at Springfield Public Schools, assuming the role of principal at the High School of Commerce until 2023. Preceding her position as Superintendent, she served as Chief of Family and Community Engagement.

Dr. Dinnall is regarded for her expertise in developing educational policy and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing academic performance and operational effectiveness. She has served on several boards, including the National Office for School Counselor Advocacy (NOSCA) Advisory Board, The University of Hartford College of Education, Nursing, and Health Professions Board of Visitors, and has recently been appointed by Governor Healey to the Board of Trustees of Holyoke Community College.

Dr. Dinnall has an array of accolades, professional certifications, and academic achievements, including four post-secondary degrees. These include a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology, a Master of Arts in Psychology from Westfield State University, a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Lesley University.