While announcing wholesale changes at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed a retired CareerTech administrator to lead the agency along with a “turnaround team” of officials from across the state. Lindel Fields is Stitt’s choice to lead that turnaround as state superintendent, replacing Ryan Walters who resigned from the position on […]
Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Posted inState
Chronic absence
Well before he canceled and skipped meetings with the state’s top school board in recent weeks, state Superintendent Ryan Walters has been chronically absent from multiple state boards where he holds a seat, including one he’s supposed to lead. Public meeting records show poor attendance from Walters, particularly this year, on various governing boards whose […]
Posted inEducation
Oklahoma State Board of Education calls its own meeting after Walters ‘refused to schedule’
In a rare move, a majority of the Oklahoma State Board of Education has scheduled its own meeting without the consent of state Superintendent Ryan Walters, who board members say has refused to cooperate. The decision comes a day after Walters abruptly canceled a meeting with the board that was meant to take place Thursday. […]
Posted inNews
Walters’ ‘America First’ teacher test could overstep Oklahoma law, state agency leader says
The Oklahoma State Department of Education likely would contradict state law if it implements an ideological test for teachers coming from certain states, said the leader of another state agency that oversees teacher assessments. Requiring an “America First” assessment for teachers moving from progressive states like California and New York, as state Superintendent Ryan Walters […]
Posted inNews
Enforcement of Oklahoma immigration law blocked indefinitely
An Oklahoma City federal judge this week placed an indefinite ban on enforcement of a state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants living in Oklahoma. The decision from U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones extends the two-week hold he implemented for House Bill 4156 on May 20 to last until he makes a final ruling on a lawsuit […]
Posted inNews
SCOTUS tie ends Oklahoma plan to open nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school
An Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling striking down a religious charter school will stand after the nation’s highest court deadlocked on the issue. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Thursday its justices voted 4-4 with Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused. A tied vote affirms the lower court’s ruling. The Oklahoma Supreme Court decided last year that the concept […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Edmond Public Schools chooses new superintendent from out of state
Pledging to continue the reputation of success as a “destination district,” a school administrator from Minnesota will become Edmond Public Schools’ next superintendent. The Edmond Board of Education voted unanimously Monday morning to hire Josh Delich as the next chief executive to lead the district of 25,700 students. On July 1, he will succeed Angela […]