Ms. Darlene Pugnali, who has more than two decades of experience as an international and domestic educator and leader, has been named Principal of the Albert N. Parlin School, the home to more than 1,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
“Ms. Pugnali distinguished herself by clearly articulating how her experience and approach to teaching and learning will benefit the diverse student population at the Parlin,” said Superintendent of Schools William D. Hart. “That, coupled with her leadership and building-management skills, made her an ideal choice to lead one of our largest K-8 schools.”
On a personal note, Ms. Pugnali is a proud daughter of immigrant parents who came to the United States from Brazil. While she was born and raised in the US, at the age of 12 she and her family moved to Brazil where she attended middle school, high school and college. Having grown up in between two cultures and two languages, she developed a deep personal understanding of the needs of immigrant students from diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Fluent in Portuguese and conversant in Spanish, Ms. Pugnali has a depth of understanding of public and independent school systems. Her many years of experience as an educational leader include working in urban public schools and independent charter schools in the US, as well as in independent American/International Schools in Brazil and Mexico.
Most recently, Ms. Pugnali served as Assistant Director of Multilingual Education for the Framingham Public Schools, a district with more than 3,000 English Learners in 13 schools. She was instrumental in providing leadership and oversight of Framingham’s dual language Portuguese and Spanish immersion programs, and in building culturally responsive systems of support for multilingual families.
Ms. Pugnali is currently a PhD candidate in Educational Leadership at Lesley University. She holds a Master’s of Education from Framingham State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Teaching Portuguese and English as a Second Language (ESL) from Faculdades Adamantinenses Integradas (FAI) in Brazil.
“I have dedicated my career to promoting active, courageous learning, and to cultivating in students a true ownership of their education starting in the early years,” said Ms. Pugnali, who will welcome students to their first day of school on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. “I recognize the important work already underway at the Albert N. Parlin School. I am joining a community with a strong foundation, built by dedicated teachers, educators, and staff. I am excited to continue that work, honoring the progress made and building upon the community’s strengths. I am humbled and honored by the trust that has been placed in me, and I am excited and ready for the work ahead.”