Reykdal best to aid achievement of schools, students

The struggles of the Marysville School District offer voters in Snohomish County a example of some of the challenges that face public education in Washington state and the task set before the two candidates looking to lead the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: incumbent Chris Reykdal and challenger David Olson.

Reykdal, seeking a third four-year term, has previously served on the Tumwater school board, taught history in high school classrooms, was a state House lawmaker, and was an official on the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. He earned his teaching certificate from WSU and has a master’s in public administration.

Olson has served on the school board for the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor since 2013, serving as its legislative liaison and with the state school directors association. He is retired from the U.S. Navy, where he attended officer candidate and technical schools. He has a bachelor’s in organizational leadership.

The state superintendent, a nonpartisan office, oversees school funding, implements educational laws, sets curriculum standards and provides resources and technical assistance to 295 school districts and seven state-tribal compact schools, serving more than 1 million K-12 students.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-reykdal-best-to-aid-achievement-of-schools-students/