Chad Magendanz during the 2014 legislative session. (Chad Magendanz for SPI)
Chad Magendanz, a Republican and former state representative who teaches computer science in Bellevue’s public schools, has launched a campaign to lead Washington’s K-12 school system.
Magendanz — pronounced like Häagen-Dazs — said he’s running because he believes schools are focusing too much on “divisive” culture wars and should get back to basic academics.
“Just as we don’t want religion in our public schools, we shouldn’t want any political doctrine to be pushed on our students,” Magendanz said.
The Issaquah resident served two terms in the state House of Representatives, from 2013 to 2017, for the 5th Legislative District, which comprises much of eastern King County. As a freshman representative, he was the top Republican on the House Education Committee.
Magendanz also helped lead negotiations on legislation responding to the McCleary decision , a landmark 2012 Washington Supreme Court case that changed how schools are funded in Washington. The Legislature implemented a new funding formula after the court determined the state was underfunding schools.