News : Vinton-Shellsburg Board of Education Names Superintendent Finalist

Darin Jones and Jon Mendoza

The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District Board of Education has selected two finalists for the district’s next superintendent. The finalists are Darin Jones and Jon Mendoza.

The board partnered with Grundmeyer Leader Services to assist with conducting the search and reviewing all qualified candidates.

Jones is the current superintendent of the AHSTW Community School District, where he led the development and voter approval of a $12.9 million project and general obligation bond, as well as the reauthorization of the district’s voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and Instructional Support Levy.

Additionally, as chair of the Southwest Iowa Consortium of Rural Schools, Jones worked with his fellow superintendents in neighboring districts to apply for teacher preparation grants. He also developed an apprenticeship program for teachers through Iowa Workforce Development to bring additional qualified educators to the region.

Jones previously served as an elementary school principal and as the dean of students in Montezuma CSD.

Mendoza is the current principal of Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. In this role, he implemented standards for students that are designed to increase instructional time and support school culture, and built a one-on-one staff meeting structure to elevate staff voices and identify improvement opportunities in the building.

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

As a next step, the board and interview teams will conduct formal interviews with the finalists on Thursday, March 26. The board intends to make a final decision shortly after concluding the interview process.

The next superintendent will begin leading the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District effective July 1, 2026