State Superintendent Ryan Walters Resigns to Lead Teacher Freedom Alliance
Oklahoma’s State Superintendent, Ryan Walters, announced his resignation on Wednesday evening during an interview on national television. He will take on the role of CEO at the Teacher Freedom Alliance. This decision follows a series of controversial leadership actions and a polarizing tenure that began when he was sworn into office on January 9, 2023.
In his appearance on Fox News, Walters teased “big news,” declaring, “Liberals’ worst nightmare is about to become true.” Speculation about his resignation had circulated earlier in the day, but local news outlets, including KFOR, refrained from reporting until official confirmation was received. Attempts to reach Governor Kevin Stitt for comment were unsuccessful.
Walters, a former social studies teacher, previously served as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Education before winning the State Superintendent position against Democratic challenger Jena Nelson. His platform emphasized parental choice, the elimination of Critical Race Theory from classrooms, and restrictions on transgender athletes competing in sports based on their biological sex. At the time he took office, Oklahoma ranked 49th in education quality and 47th in spending per student, as indicated by various education reports.
Controversial Tenure
Walters’ tenure has been marked by divisive decisions that garnered both support and backlash from Oklahomans. He mandated that public schools teach from the Bible to provide historical context and ordered schools to show a video of him praying for former President Donald Trump.
Recently, he faced scrutiny from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office over inappropriate content displayed during a private meeting, although it was determined there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges. The content in question originated from a Jackie Chan film, ‘The Protector’. Before the investigation concluded, Walters inaccurately claimed he had been exonerated, accusing board members of dishonesty and suggesting collusion with the Governor.
He also faced criticism for proposed social studies standards that included multiple references to the Bible and controversial theories regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the legitimacy of the 2020 election. This month, the Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked the implementation of these standards.
Walters attempted to require schools to collect immigration statuses of students and guardians, a proposal that met significant opposition and was ultimately rejected by the legislature. The Governor condemned this initiative and subsequently restructured the State Board of Education.
Future Implications
With Walters’ departure, Governor Stitt is tasked with appointing a successor to fulfill Walters’ responsibilities until the end of his term in January 2027. As of this report, no potential candidates have been identified.
This resignation concludes a turbulent chapter in Oklahoma’s educational leadership, one that has sparked ongoing debates about educational policy, governance, and the role of politics in schools. The impact of Walters’ decisions will likely continue to influence the state’s educational landscape in the coming years.
