OSPI Candidates Forum: The Future of International Education in Washington State
October 25th, 2016
Join us for a Candidates Forum on International Education with Erin Jones and Chris Reykdal, candidates for Washington State’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Our children’s lives will be defined by the world within and beyond our borders; how will our state’s education system work to reflect this reality? The next Superintendent of Public Instruction will play a key role in guiding the direction that Washington schools go in. Learn about candidates Reykdal and Jones’ vision for advancing international learning in Washington, and their plans for promoting global competency within our schools.
Candidates will make brief remarks outlining their platform and experiences in terms of International Education. The audience will then have the opportunity to ask more detailed and directed questions about the candidates’ goals and expertise.
A Candidates’ Forum is not a place for advocacy, but it is an opportunity to let constituencies share issues of importance to them with the candidates, and to hear candidates’ positions on these issues. If you have an interest in ensuring that Washington remains a leader in language learning and global education, this is your chance to let the candidates know!
Moderator:
Noah Zeichner is a National Board-certified social studies teacher at Chief Sealth International School in Seattle, Washington. He currently works in a hybrid role, spending part of his day supporting international education in Seattle Public Schools. From 2011-2014, Noah coordinated a student-led, school-wide festival called World Water Week and in 2015, he and his students organized the inaugural Washington State Global Issues Network Conference. Noah was honored with the 2013-14 World Affairs Council World Educator Award and was among 50 finalists for the 2015 Global Teacher Prize.
Candidates:
Erin Jones, the adopted daughter of two educators, grew up in The Netherlands where her parents taught at the American School of The Hague. Erin earned her teaching certificate at Pacific Lutheran University with endorsements in English, French and ELL. In 2007, the Washington Association of Foreign Language Teachers named her Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher. Erin was selected as a Milken Educator of the Year for Washington state while teaching at Rogers High School in Spokane in 2007, and as one of ten White House Champions of Change for Educational Excellence for African Americans. Most recently, the Washington state PTA honored Erin with their Educator of the Year award in 2015.In her three years of serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, her work centered around developing policy recommendations and promoting instructional best practices for diverse student groups. Prior to that, she served as the Director of the Center of the Improvement of Student Learning.
Chris Reykdal was born and raised in Snohomish Washington and is the youngest of eight children. Chris attended Washington State University and was classroom teachers before attending graduate school at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. After graduate school, Chris returned to Washington State, where he went to work for the State Senate. Chris works in the State Legislature to create opportunities for learners of all ages by ensure a robust and successful community and technical college systems in the nation. As a former school board member, Chris understands that a seamless education system from early learning to graduate degree programs is needed to ensure that citizens have access to the best education, the best jobs, and the greatest opportunity to achieve self-actualization.