Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Chris Reykdal was born and raised in Snohomish, Washington as the youngest of eight children. He has served as a high school history teacher, local school board member, state legislator, and budget and policy executive for our state’s community and technical college system. Chris has dedicated his entire career to public education, and he is currently serving in his first term as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Chris and his wife, Kim, live in historic Tumwater with their two children, Carter and Kennedy.
Chris graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in social studies, a geology minor, and a teaching certificate. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. In his role as the State Superintendent, Chris also serves on the State Board of Education, Workforce Training and Education Board, and the State Board of Natural Resources.
Chris leads a team at OSPI that is working hard to open multiple pathways to high school graduation including expanded technical education opportunities. Additionally, OSPI has transformed the state’s accountability system through critical policy and budget changes.
Chris Reykdal’s Website
What I learned…
“I appreciated how informed the speaker was on the issues presented and was able to say a fully developed response. I learned I should be quite knowing on subjects before being asked to speak on the behalf of others.” – Colin Slattery, Oak
“I love Chris Reykdal’s views on today’s education standards. I definitely felt that he truly supports Washington State’s youth by giving them more opportunities to construct their own educational pathways. I absolutely love what Mr. Reykdal had to say about compromise. Listening to others involves recognizing the reasoning behind their opinions and ideas. Everyone is a valuable source of information, and we learn a lot from one another. That’s how I felt after leaving today’s guest speaker.” John Clover, Oak
