With the primary elections in full swing, the Bothell Reporter conducted a Q&A with the candidates for Northshore School Board.

In order to better inform citizens about their choices, the Bothell Reporter used same questions for each candidate.

David Cogan is running for District Director position 3 in the 2015 Northshore School District elections.

Since Position 3 has three candidates, there will be a primary election for the position held on Aug. 4.

Reporter: What is your background experience?

Cogan: I’m a member of the Northshore Lacrosse Board, and have volunteered in our district as a science docent, PTA legislative representative, classroom helper, and chaperone. I work in biomedical technology, where I manage a multi-million dollar territory. Serving on a board and my career, which combines science and business, have taught me how to collaborate with others, evaluate complex problems from multiple points of view, and build consensus to implement the best solution.

Reporter: What skills or experiences do you believe will help you in the NSD position?

Cogan: I love to travel and meet people. I was a foreign language exchange student, and I celebrate the great variety in people and cultures. I’ve also been married to a teacher who has taught special education at Leota Junior High for four years and at Woodinville High School for 17 years. I hear first hand how school can be difficult for some of our students, and I carry these sensitivities with me and will advocate that our schools provide the best education possible for all of our students.

Reporter: What motivated you to run for NSD?

Cogan: I like to be of help and enjoy working with others to solve complex problems. Our school board makes decisions that profoundly affect our students, families, community members, and school employees. I am thoughtful, open-minded, and an effective communicator. These are valuable attributes for your school board representative.

Reporter: What made you decide to run / re-run this year versus other years?

Cogan: My three year term on the Northshore Lacrosse board ends in less than a year, and I wanted to continue to serve my community in a similar capacity. Now that my children are older and at Bothell High School and Canyon Park Junior High, I have time to take on additional responsibilities.

Reporter: What issues are you concerned with the most?

Cogan: Issues most concerning to me are how the Northshore School District responds when a student experiences discrimination or is threatened with violence, and also how we decide which of our many standardized tests are worth the cost and the time away from learning.

Reporter: What issues do you believe are of importance to NSD parents and students?

Cogan: My neighbors, my family, and I expect our schools to value each student and to ensure a safe and appropriate learning environment. In order to deliver a high quality education we need the appropriate staff and facilities given the population of our district. We want a greater focus on educational activities with fewer standardized tests.

Reporter: Why did you pick this position over other positions, open or otherwise?

Cogan: I have seen how a strong education can lead to a bright future. My parents were the first of their families to go to college, and they became public school teachers. My education has allowed me many opportunities, and my children are receiving a terrific education in our district. I decided to run for the Northshore School Board to perpetuate our successes and to work to make our district even better.

Reporter: Do you believe the parents of NSD will support you and why?

Cogan: Yes. Our community values our Northshore schools, and school board decisions directly affect the education of our children. A vote for me selects the candidate having: board experience, school and community involvement, million dollar budget expertise, and the endorsement of Northshore teachers, nurses, and school support staff.

Reporter: What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the NSD?

Cogan: The challenge that affects the most of us is how our district decides to apply school funding to address the needs of our growing community. We need more classrooms and staff to keep pace with our expanding school population.

Reporter: What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming election?

Cogan: I am most looking forward to the opportunity to work with parents, teachers, school administrators, and the other board members to dig into the many complex and nuanced issues to ensure we pursue the paths that provide our students with the best education possible.