The Spokesman-Review, David Olson

David earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. He and his wife, Tonia, live in Gig Harbor and they have 4 children and 1 granchild.

David previously worked in various banking positions, including branch manager and business banker. He served in the US Navy for 28 years, retiring as a chief warrant officer.

David Olson served as a member of the Peninsula School District Board since 2013 and was elected to the Pierce County Charter Review Commission in 2015. 

Candidate website

Plans to focus on targeted academic interventions and improved teaching practices to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Plans to focus on targeted academic interventions and improved teaching practices.

Believes in prioritizing academic rigor and support opportunities in school curriculum.

Supports maintaining highly capable/gifted programs and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

Supports maintaining gifted programs and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

- Plans to focus on targeted academic interventions and improved teaching practices.
- Believes in prioritizing academic rigor and support opportunities in school curriculum.
- Supports maintaining gifted programs and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

School Curriculum

As of October 7, 2024, David Olson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

School Facilities & Resources

Supports providing additional resources and tutoring for struggling students, as well as expanding skilled trades programs.

Believes chronic absenteeism has increased under the current superintendent, depriving children of learning opportunities, and plans to advocate for policies that partner with parents and students to reduce absenteeism.

Plans to advocate for policies that partner with parents and students to reduce absenteeism.

- Supports providing additional resources and tutoring for struggling students, as well as expanding skilled trades programs.
- Plans to advocate for policies that partner with parents and students to reduce absenteeism.

Access to Education

Believes most teachers oppose the Student Based Assessment (SBA) because "the results are attached to individual students and not an assessment of the system."

Believes most teachers oppose the Student Based Assessment (SBA)

Supports designing a new assessment system that provides educators with more immediate and actionable data to tailor instruction to meet students' needs.

- Believes most teachers oppose the Student Based Assessment (SBA)
- Supports designing a new assessment system that provides educators with more immediate and actionable data to tailor instruction to meet students' needs.

Teachers

Believes teachers need more support in addressing student mental health issues.

Supports policies reducing cellphone and banning social media use in schools.

- Believes teachers need more support in addressing student mental health issues.
- Supports policies reducing cellphone and banning social media use in schools.

Student Wellbeing

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David Olson

He earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. He and his wife, Tonia, live in Gig Harbor and they have 4 children and 1 granchild.

Supports high academic standards, early intervention programs, and data-driven decision-making to improve school curriculum and student performance.

Believes in providing uninterrupted services for special education students, and supports collaborative efforts between school districts and teacher unions to achieve this goal.

Believes high-achieving students need opportunities to "stretch their abilities."

Believes students should have access to advanced coursework.

Believes in ensuring every school district receives necessary resources, regardless of wealth, and plans to avoid reliance on short-term federal funding and prevent teacher layoffs.

Supports the Central Valley School Board.

As a school board member, supported the improvement and maintenance of school facilities.

Believes in reviewing and improving county governance structures, and as a member of the Pierce County Charter Review Commission, contributed to the oversight of the county's fundamental laws and the structure of its government.

Plans to prioritize addressing the school facilities crisis.

Believes the current superintendent lacks leadership skills, saying "Our kids can’t afford four more average years!"

Plans to address the "funding crisis" in local districts by urging the state to prioritize funding for public schools.

Supports prioritizing student success and ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all.

Believes high-quality education should be accessible to all students.

Believes in listening to educators' perspectives on school policies.

Believes in supporting access to education for military personnel, as evidenced by his own experience enlisting in the U.S. Navy immediately after high school.

Believes less than 50% of Washington students can read and write at grade level, and plans to "fix the funding crisis impacting local districts by pushing the state to properly fund special education."

Believes less than 50% of Washington students can read and write at grade level.

Believes it is "time for change" at OSPI and appeals to Washington teachers and staff to vote for him.

Believes chronic absenteeism in schools has doubled, indicating a decline in child wellbeing and engagement.

As a school board member, supported policies reducing cellphone and banning social media use in schools to improve student focus and well-being.

Believes in enhancing community well-being to create an ideal environment for families.

Supports parental and family involvement in their children's education.

Believes in community and educational improvement for child well-being.

Believes in providing "personalized and consistent support over time" for child well-being.

As of October 8, 2024, David Olson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

David Olson served as a member of the Peninsula School District Board since 2013 and was elected to the Pierce County Charter Review Commission in 2015. He is a former Navy diver and banker.

- The superintendent of public instruction heads the state's Department of Public Instruction, overseeing education statewide. The department creates and shares state education policies, supports school districts, and oversees K-12 education.
- The superintendent's office oversees graduation requirements and residency programs and can advocate for funding from the legislature. 
- They are paid a salary of $153,000.

Chief executive of the state’s public education grades K-12