Lemon Grove School District Names Marianna Vinson as Superintendent

After a lengthy process of gathering stakeholder input, a nation-wide search that included the review of 14 applicants, and a comprehensive interview process of the top applicants, the Lemon Grove School District school board announced last week that Marianna Vinson will be the district's next superintendent.

Marianna Vinson has served as an equity-driven educator with more than 25 years. A first-generation Mexican-American and the first in her family to attend college, Marianna began her teaching career in San Diego County after graduating with honors from Stanford University. After receiving advanced degrees from San Diego State University and National University, she became a principal and then a district leader, including serving as assistant superintendent of educational services for a district in Riverside County.

In 2014, Marianna was hired by the White House to serve as deputy director for the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. During her appointment, she led English Learner services for the nation and was involved in the reauthorization of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Upon returning to California, Marianna served as a consultant and coach for InnovateEd, building culture and capacity in school districts across the state.

Marianna joined the Lemon Grove district in July 2020, serving as executive director of educational services before being promoted to deputy superintendent in 2022. Marianna and her husband Dan will be celebrating 24 years of marriage this month. They have two children - Sydney, a sophomore at San Diego State University, and Luke, a junior at UCLA.

Lemon Grove School District Board President Dr. Javier Ayala said he believes Vinson is a great fit to serve the district as its next leader. 

“We are thrilled to announce Marianna Vinson as the new superintendent of Lemon Grove School District," he said. "Our collaboration with JG Consulting ensured that we attracted top-tier candidates from across the nation, and Marianna’s leadership and dedication emerged as the ideal fit to guide our district into a successful future.”  

Vinson said she looks forward to working collaboratively on a shared vision to provide the best educational experiences for all students.

“I look forward to continuing to serve the students, staff, and community of Lemon Grove,” she said. “We continue to work on implementing our strategic plan, ensuring equity and excellence in all school programs.” 

The Lemon Grove School District Board officially voted on the position at its June 11 meeting. Vinson will begin her role as superintendent July 1.