Aune named executive director of state school directors' association

Washington Association of School Administrators announced Tuesday that Joel Aune, superintendent of Snoqualmie Valley School District, will serve as the association’s new executive director beginning July 1. His selection was confirmed this week by the association’s board of directors.

Aune, 57, served as superintendent of the Colfax School District for seven years before going to the Snoqualmie Valley where he has served for 13 years.

Aune will replace Dr. Bill Keim, who will retire this summer after leading the association for the past five years.

As executive director, Aune will oversee a staff of 11 based in Olympia and will lead an organization focused on both K–12 education policy issues and the leadership development of Washington’s public school administrators.

“The Washington Association of School Administrators will be in great hands with Joel Aune serving as its executive director,” said Keim. “Joel is an outstanding leader with a broad range of experience in school districts across the state. That experience will help him better understand and support our state’s educational leaders, who serve in a wide variety of contexts.”

Over the course of his 35-year educational career, Aune has served as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent in both small and medium-sized school districts in Washington. His work reflects a mix of the state’s own diverse school populations, with experience ranging from ethnically diverse and high poverty districts to affluent and high performing districts.

Before coming to Colfax, Aune served as an elementary principal in the Walla Walla School and as an assistant principal and teacher in Cashmere.

Aune has served as chair of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), Superintendents’ Advisory Committee (2016–present), and as WASA president (2011–12).

Aune earned his superintendent’s credentials from Washington State University. He holds a master’s in educational administration from Central Washington University and a bachelor of arts in reading and mathematics from Eastern Washington University.

The son of Bud and Judy Aune, now of Colfax, he is a member of the 1978 class of LaCrosse High School.

Aune is married to the former Dory Lust of Endicott. Two of their children, Seth and Kara, graduated from Colfax High School and their youngest, Jordan, graduated at Snoqualmie.