Oklahoma schools chief resigns to helm conservative Teacher Freedom Alliance

Oklahoma’s state schools superintendent Ryan Walters announced his resignation on Wednesday, stepping down to become chief executive officer of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a national conservative group that promotes alternatives to teachers unions. Walters, 40, has led the Oklahoma Department of Education since January 2023 and has become a polarizing figure in the state’s education debates. His departure signals a shift from state policy to a nationwide effort to influence how classrooms are governed and how curriculum is framed in public schools.

During his tenure, Walters drew national attention for efforts to revive religious elements in the public classroom. In June 2024 he directed Oklahoma public schools to teach the Bible, with emphasis on the Ten Commandments. Earlier this year a bill circulated in the Legislature that would require display of the Ten Commandments in all public schools, but it did not advance into law. Walters also pressed for state funding to place Trump-branded Bibles in classrooms, a proposal lawmakers rejected after pushback from lawmakers and educators; large districts largely ignored the directive to teach Bible passages. The administration had sought about $3 million for the Trump-branded Bibles, a request that became a flashpoint in the budget debate over church-state separation.

Walters’ tenure also faced controversy when state board of education members said they saw images of naked women on a television screen in his office during a meeting. Walters denied the allegations, calling them false, and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute after an investigation. In his final acts as superintendent, Walters unveiled plans to establish Turning Point USA chapters in every Oklahoma high school, a move designed to promote conservative organizing within schools amid ongoing debates over curricular and civic education.

Walters has left his post with an eye toward the 2026 Oklahoma governor’s race, a year when Gov. Kevin Stitt cannot seek a third term. He told KOCO 5 that supporters have urged a bid, but that his focus remains on the current legislative session and the school year. The resignation comes as Walters’ ending agenda included expanding conservative student organizing and pursuing a broader plan to test the political climate around education policy.

Reaction to the resignation was swift from the Teacher Freedom Alliance, which praised Walters and framed the move as part of a broader effort to counter what it called the woke liberal union mob. The group said it would take the fight to unions and build a national movement centered on freedom and common sense. Walters’ departure underscores ongoing tensions in Oklahoma over the role of religion in public education, the power of teacher unions, and the influence of national advocacy networks in state policy.

His exit comes as Oklahoma’s public education debates continue to intersect with broader national debates about curriculum, faith in schools, and the role of outside groups in shaping policy.