Oklahoma education chief resigns to lead conservative teachers' group

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's Republican superintendent of public instruction, announced Wednesday night on Fox News that he will resign to become chief executive officer of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit that says it helps educators “develop free, moral, and upright American citizens.” Walters, 40, said he plans to “destroy the teachers unions” and to pursue a broad conservative agenda in Oklahoma public schools as he leaves the state education job.

Walters has embraced culture-war politics and pressed to inject religious elements into instruction, including a policy that public school teachers incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12. He has also proposed requiring social studies teachers to promote conspiratorial narratives about the 2020 election, to track the immigration status of students, and to require job applicants from California and New York to pass an exam he described as guarding against “radical leftist ideology.” In a sign of his broader push, Walters announced on Tuesday that Oklahoma high schools would host Turning Point USA chapters, saying parents, teachers and students want to engage in free speech and dialogue about American values.

The move comes after a decade in which Walters has leaned into political controversy. He previously served as Oklahoma Secretary of Education from September 2020 to April 2023, a role appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. His resignation leaves the state’s education leadership at a time of intense scrutiny over curriculum and classroom instruction as Oklahoma’s national standing in several education metrics has trended downward.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican candidate for governor in 2026, said in a statement that the state needs a superintendent who will focus on “quality instruction in our public schools” rather than political conflicts. The assertions reflect a broader national debate about curriculum, parental involvement, and the role of ideology in public education, a debate that lawmakers in Oklahoma and across the country have increasingly tied to partisan rhetoric.

Walters’ departure signals a shift in the state’s approach to public instruction as officials and education groups weigh how best to address declines in performance metrics, school funding, teacher retention, and standardized test results. While supporters credit Walters with expanding parental engagement and promoting school choice within a conservative framework, critics have argued that his policies risk narrowing instructional content and elevating political objectives over classroom learning.

The timeline for Walters’ transition to the Teacher Freedom Alliance is not yet specified, and it remains to be seen how the state’s leadership will manage ongoing policy initiatives and potential legal challenges tied to his proposed measures. As Oklahoma searches for continuity in its public education system, observers say the administration’s approach to curriculum, religion in schools, and teacher empowerment will continue to influence public debates about education policy in the state and beyond.