OLYMPIA – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said he will not seek re-election in 2028 for a fourth term leading Washington’s public school system.
Reykdal said he believes in term limits. “Public institutions are strengthened when leadership changes, new voices emerge, and those entrusted with public office understand that the position belongs to the people, not to the person holding it,” he said in a written statement.
Reykdal said serving as state superintendent has been one of the greatest honors of his professional life. He said he and his wife, Kim, are still weighing their options and will be transparent about the decision as it develops. “No matter what I decide, service to our state and our youth will remain the core value that guides my next steps,” he said.
Reykdal said he regularly visits classrooms across the state. “Our students are curious and engaged, and hearing their interests and goals is a constant reminder that our future is in good hands,” he said.
“I am profoundly grateful to the people of Washington for the trust they have placed in me,” Reykdal said. “Public service is a privilege, never an entitlement, and I intend to serve the next two years with all of the hard work, passion, and conviction that I first promised voters in 2016.”
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