Gov. Gregoire names Richard Hauan superintendent of Washington School for the Deaf

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2008

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed Richard Hauan to be superintendent of the Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver.

Gregoire named Hauan interim superintendent last September. Prior to that appointment, he had been serving as assistant superintendent since July 2004.

�Rick has demonstrated admirably that he has the skills and commitment to improve the education of deaf and hard of hearing students throughout the state,� Gregoire said. �He�s done a great job of networking with school districts across the state so they get the assistance they need.�

Hauan said he is pleased to be given the opportunity to continue his work.

�Educating and advocating for special needs children has been my passion and the focus of my career, and I am thankful for this opportunity to continue to improve the services Washington provides for children who are deaf or hard of hearing,� he said.

Hauan joined the School for the Deaf after serving as director of special programs for the Anacortes School District, director of special education for the Oak Harbor School District, and special education teacher for Oak Harbor High School.

He holds a School Administration Certification from Western Washington University, a Master of Science in Education degree from Western Oregon University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and secondary education from Augustana College in South Dakota. He worked in the banking industry before becoming an educator.

Founded in 1886, the School for the Deaf provides educational and residential services for eligible children from birth through age 21. It also provides consultation and outreach services to school districts throughout the state.