News : Vinton-Shellsburg Board of Education Names Mendoza Next District Superintendent

The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District Board of Education has selected Jon Mendoza as the district’s next superintendent, pending board finalization.

Mendoza is currently the principal of Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. Mendoza has also served as the principal at Crestview School of Inquiry Elementary School in West Des Moines. As principal, he has established standards for students designed to increase instructional time and foster school culture. He also implemented a one-on-one meeting structure to elevate staff voices and address improvement opportunities in the building as they arise.

“The Vinton Shellsburg School Board is pleased to announce that Jon Mendoza has been selected as our new superintendent,” said Board President Thomas Burke. “We are very excited to have Jon join Viking Nation. Jon demonstrated his goal-oriented, passion and system driven leadership throughout the interview process that we felt he would be a great fit for the next leader of our district. The future of Vinton Shellsburg is bright with Jon's vision for our future.”

Before serving in West Des Moines, Mendoza was the founding principal and director of the virtual campus for the Des Moines Public Schools. In this role, he provided direction and leadership for more than 5,500 students and 225 staff when the district transitioned to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mendoza also created additional remote learning opportunities and increased the number of enrolled virtual students from 300 to 1,500 over the course of three years.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next superintendent of the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District,” Mendoza said. “My family and I are truly excited to become part of such welcoming communities that take great pride in their schools. It’s clear that Vinton-Shellsburg is committed to supporting students, empowering staff, and partnering with families. I look forward to listening, learning, and connecting with the communities as we work together to continue creating meaningful opportunities and success for every student.”

The Vinton-Shellsburg CSD Board of Education collaborated with staff at Grundmeyer Leader Services to find the most qualified candidates and allow proper time for a transition before the start of the 2026-27 school year.

Mendoza will officially begin leading the district effective july 1, 2026.