Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters to Resign for Conservative Education Role

OKLAHOMA CITY — State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced his resignation during a live appearance on FOX News Wednesday night, stating he will take on a new role as CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a conservative organization aimed at challenging teachers’ unions. Walters, who has over a year remaining in his term, will officially resign in early October, as confirmed by his campaign manager, Matt Langston.

Walters’s resignation means that Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will need to appoint a new leader for the Oklahoma State Department of Education for the term lasting until January 2027. Stitt has not yet indicated potential candidates for the position.

During his FOX News segment, Walters expressed enthusiasm for his upcoming position, declaring, “We will build an army of teachers to defeat the teachers unions once and for all.” He accused the unions of corrupting schools and undermining educational quality.

The Teacher Freedom Alliance, which currently has 2,617 enrolled members, aims to provide educators with alternatives to traditional unions, including professional development and liability insurance. It was launched by the Freedom Foundation, a national conservative think tank, earlier this year.

Walters, who has held the position since 2022, gained notoriety for his controversial policies and statements against “woke” educational approaches. He previously labeled the Oklahoma teachers union as a “terrorist organization” and has been a vocal critic of what he sees as liberal influence in schools.

Throughout his tenure, he has faced scrutiny from both Republicans and Democrats for his confrontational approach to education reform and his focus on cultural issues over academic improvement.

Despite speculation that he would seek higher political office, Walters did not announce any intentions for future campaigns during his resignation announcement.

“We have seen the teachers unions use money and power to corrupt our schools,” Walters stated. “This fight’s going national, and we will get our schools back on track.” Walters’s resignation comes amidst criticism and controversies that have marked his leadership.