Meet our Administrative Team

Carol Chen, 6th Grade Assistant Principal

With a profound passion for working with the middle school population, Ms. Chen is excited to be a Mustang!

Prior to joining the Moreland team, she devoted five years to John Muir Middle School, where she served as both an Assistant Principal of Instruction and an Assistant Principal of Discipline. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Chen aimed to inspire and empower her students, guiding them to unlock their full academic and personal potential.

Before transitioning into an administrative role, she oversaw mental health resources for 41 schools encompassing grades K - 12. Additionally she contributed her expertise as a counselor at both the high school and middle school levels. Ms. Chen’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in School Counseling, PPS Credential, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, all earned from San Jose State University.

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Yonit Parenti, 7th Grade Assistant Principal

Yonit Parenti, a 23-year educator, is the new 7th grade Assistant Principal at Moreland Middle School. She previously worked for the Moreland School District as a middle school Math and Science teacher, lead school counselor, SEL (social emotional learning) Instructional coach, and school-linked services coordinator.

She is deeply committed to helping families raise intelligent, empowered, and emotionally and physically healthy children. She envisions a world that values the individual needs of each child and their family and fosters community partnerships to secure access to the resources and opportunities students need to thrive and live a happy life. When resolving conflict, she applies her extensive training in restorative practices to understand the why and mindset of the student rather than focusing on punitive consequences.

Yonit received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Oswego State University and two master's degrees in Education from the College of Staten Island and in School Counseling from Alfred University. In 2022, Yonit earned her credential in Administrative Leadership from SCCOE (Santa Clara County Office of Education) through the LEAP program.

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Melissa Capurro, 8th Grade Assistant Principal

Melissa Capurro has been a part of the Moreland School District for 15 years and will be serving her 3rd year as an MMS Assistant Principal. Prior to her administrative work, Melissa has taught middle school Math and AVID, was a district math lead, been the AVID District Director, and MMS instructional coach.

Melissa serves to empower students to become reflective, determined, and confident. She is passionate about working alongside students, staff, and families to best serve the community and students that MMS serves. Melissa is drawn to the unique period of adolescent development, seeking to understand and support middle school students academically, socially, and emotionally.

Melissa received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State. She earned her multiple-subject teaching credential and subject matter authorization (math) from San Jose State in 2009.

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Theresa Molinelli, Principal

Theresa Molinelli has been part of the Moreland community since 1996. During this time she has served as a teacher, a teacher on special assignment, an assistant principal, a principal, and as the Director of Educational Services. Theresa began her career in Los Angeles teaching middle and high school. Theresa is passionate about working with and supporting teenagers as they learn to navigate a range of contemporary challenges, a journey which she believes can help young people build community, make good choices, and lead with confidence.

Theresa's unwavering commitment to student well-being and achievement is evident in her work with students, families, and faculty members. Theresa strives to foster a school culture built upon mutual respect. She believes that students learn best when they are known, feel that they belong, and believe that the adults around them are committed to promoting their academic, personal, and social growth.

As a life-long learner, Theresa stays current on educational research and trends. She likes to learn about educational leadership, building strong school cultures, and using data to drive instruction. Theresa is committed to building systems, programs, and activities at Moreland Middle School that are data-driven and build upon collaborative decision-making.

Theresa received her master's and doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership from the University of San Francisco. Theresa earned her multiple-subject and single-subject teaching credentials from Loyola Marymount University. She earned her administrative services credential from the University of San Francisco in 2001.