Joni Pabst is about to become the first Arizonan to receive the highest honor for a high school athletic administrator.

The longtime Tucson Unified School District leader is one of 12 high school athletic directors who will be inducted into the 7^th Hall of Fame class of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). The ceremony will take place Tuesday in Orlando during the 46^th annual National Athletic Directors Conference.

Pabst made her mark at every level, from high school to national duties, during her 24-year career, and she’s still advocating on behalf of Arizona’s high school athletes. She’s currently the executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, which already welcomed Pabst into its hall of fame.

Her high school sports career began in 1986 as a physical education teacher at Catalina High and girls volleyball coach at Sabino. From there she served at Cholla High as a teacher, volleyball coach, chair of the of the physical education department and assistant athletic director from 1987 to 1998.

Pabst’s successful tenure as an athletic administrator began with a 12-year (1998-2010) run as an assistant principal/athletic director at Santa Rita and Sahuaro High Schools. She began to cut her teeth in administration at the state level when she ran a couple of state tournaments for the Arizona Interscholastic Association and served on the AIA’s board, including a stint as the board's president.

She continued to climb the administrative ladder with roles at the NIAAA, including a tour as its president in 2008. Along the way, Pabst picked up several accolades, including the University of Arizona Outstanding High School Faculty Award, NIAAA State Award of Merit, and Cross Country Official of the Year and Athletic Director of the Year honors.

The National Federation of State High School Associations Network is broadcasting the NIAAA Hall of Fame Banquet Tuesday. Go here to view the broadcast.