The Seattle Times Editorial Board (STEB) has endorsed Chris Reykdal for re-election as Superintendent of Public Instruction, but this endorsement is misguided. The real choice in this election is David Olson.
While the paper may call itself “the free press,” its persistent endorsement of neoprogressive policies says otherwise. There’s a line between reporting and ideological bias, and the Times often crosses it, especially when it comes to education and race-related issues.
In the primary, STEB endorsed Reid Saaris, a young, politically inexperienced education entrepreneur. Their decision to bypass David Olson then and endorse Reykdal now makes no sense. To add insult to injury, they followed up with a Danny Westneat hit piece.
It’s hard not to wonder if Washington State’s problems could be solved if the Times backed moderates instead of neoprogressives.
Reykdal’s Record
Chris Reykdal has been in office for eight years, and we’ve seen how he operates. His appearances at public debates and legislative district meetings are filled with empty, filibustering rhetoric. He’s a yes-man for left-wing neoprogressive interests—big government, big labor, and big corporations. These forces dominate public education in Washington State, to the detriment of student achievement.
As more tax dollars are allocated to “fix” the problem, they arrive without accountability, so the cycle of failure worsens. This is the pattern of the neoprogressivist agenda.
Under Reykdal, student achievement in Washington State has plummeted. Most students aren’t learning to read, write, or do math proficiently. Many are disengaged. Reykdal’s focus on social constructs rather than core learning has led to Washington schools ranking near the bottom nationally in student achievement. We can’t afford another term of this dumbing down of our education system.
The unending remote learning mandates that Reykdal put in place during COVID, his embrace of “equity” initiatives that lower educational standards, and the growing exodus of students from public schools under his leadership, all point to a failed administration. Yet the Seattle Times Editorial Board ignores these critical issues by clinging to Reykdal. The numbers don’t lie – 60,000 students have left Washington schools on his watch, bankrupting districts.
Why Olson is the Right Choice
Both parties have radicals and moderates so simply voting “D” or “R” isn’t good enough and can worsen the status quo. This is why voters need to go beyond party labels and examine where candidates are on their respective political spectrums.
David Olson is a qualified, experienced, and thoughtful moderate. He’s not beholden to neoprogressive theories or paleoconservative fundamentalism. Olson supports evidence-based reforms and innovations, which is what we need to improve our schools.
He served as an officer in the military and has been elected three times to the Peninsula School Board. There he’s contributed to meaningful reforms that provide challenges for each student. They also banned cell phone use in classrooms long before it became popular.
As Superintendent of Public Instruction, Olson would have significant influence over a large budget and the opportunity to use his platform to enact real change.
A Vote for Olson is a Vote for Common Sense
David Olson is not part of the ideological revolution that’s overtaking education. He’s a centrist who supports practical, evidence-based reforms. We need leaders like Olson who can bring sanity back to public education. Chris Reykdal, endorsed by every Democratic legislative district group in Seattle, is entrenched in a failing system. These groups have long abandoned moderates and now endorse the most radical elements of the left, supporting candidates who promote policies like abolishing police and jails. They’re essentially outposts for The Stranger at this point. Olson offers a clear, moderate alternative to this chaos.
As a twice-elected bipartisan Democrat PCO (Precinct Committee Officer), I’ve seen firsthand the dangers of unchecked neoprogressivism. In this race, the choice is clear. The future of Washington’s public education system hangs in the balance.
Enough is Enough—Vote David Olson for Superintendent of Public Instruction
Endnote: Check out Ruy Teixeira’s recent essay at The Liberal Patriot on Substack where he suggests the policy direction moderates should adopt concerning education.