Juan Mendoza was officially named as the new principal of Diegueño Middle School following the April 24 San Dieguito Union High School District board approval on April 24.
Mendoza has 31 years of experience in education and is currently the principal at Van Buren Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He will begin his new role July 1, taking over for Celeste Barnette who has led the school since 2022.
According to a news release, Mendoza graduated from St. Mary’s of the Plains with a bachelors degree in physical education and health. He received his masters in educational leadership from Creighton University and started his career in education as a physical education teacher and head football coach at St. Pius X High School in New Mexico. In his 31-year career, he also served as a high school and middle school assistant principal.
Additionally at last month’s meeting the board also approved Bessma Garmo as the new assistant principal for San Dieguito High School Academy.
According to a district news release, Garmo is a Chaldean immigrant who arrived to the United States from war-torn Iraq when she was 14 years old. She overcame language and cultural hurdles, “a testament to the American Dream.”
Garmo brings 25 years of educational experience, including 20 years as a math teacher and five years as an . She comes to San Dieguito from the Grossmont Union High School District and will begin her new role on July 1.
