Vancouver Public Schools’ superintendent will step down at the end of the school year after accepting a new position with a state education association. After four years leading the Vancouver school district, Jeff Snell will become the executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators, starting July 1. Snell will succeed Joel Aune, who will retire after seven years in the position. “This decision comes with mixed emotions,” Snell said in a letter to the district’s community. “I’m incredibly proud of the work our students and staff have accomplished, and it has been an honor to support that work.” He said new role will allow him to continue advocating for public education in the state but also have more flexibility to support his son, whose medical needs have increased. (Micah Snell was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation after he was born seven weeks prematurely in 2009.)

Snell’s leadership with the Washington Association of School Administrators will focus on K–12 education policy issues, the state’s public school administrators leadership development and championing public education, according to the association’s news release. Vancouver’s board will determine the 2025-26 school year’s superintendent within the coming weeks, according to Snell’s letter. Snell stepped in as Vancouver’s superintendent during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2021-22 school year. He was chosen after a nationwide search that began in late 2020 and drew 34 applicants to replace outgoing Superintendent Steve Webb. Snell spent the previous 10 years in top-level district administration in the Camas School District, including serving as superintendent. Snell spent the first 15 years of his career in the Vancouver school district as a secondary classroom teacher, associate principal, and principal at McLoughlin Middle School and Fort Vancouver High School.

He received his doctorate in educational leadership, master’s degree in education and superintendent and principal credentials from Washington State University. At Boston University, Snell earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics education. “Thank you for the opportunity to serve this incredible community,” Snell said. “I’ll continue to support public education from a new perspective — and I’ll always be cheering for VPS.”