When I was covering education in Oklahoma schools about 15 years ago, it was ranked 17th in the nation and then the next year in 2011, it was ranked 11th.
Not bad for a state that is often the butt of jokes. Yet, when I was covering education, I noticed faculty/staff and administrators were more focused on the students and teaching than test numbers.
Then things changed, Democrat Gov. Brad Henry (who was basically a conservative Democrat) had termed out after eight years. And the state decided that conservative Mary Fallin was prettier than Democrat Jari Askins, so Fallin became the governor.
And that led to the downfall of Oklahoma schools. In eight years, they fell to 48th. Anyone who has focused on education knows why. It became about testing, testing, testing. Any time there was a field trip, all I would hear was, “It’s not going to affect testing.” I think field trips are important because there’s a lot of learning outside the classroom.
Now in 2025, Oklahoma has fallen to last place at 50th. And part of the reason is Ryan Walters, who said on Wednesday, Sept. 24, he’s leaving the position of state superintendent. Not one person can disrupt an organization, but it all started with the state in 2011 pushing back against the Obama Administration just to own the libs. Needless to say they let the kids suffer.
As state superintendent, Walters went overboard trying to kiss the current administration’s ass. He said all school districts will be required to have a Turning Point USA chapter or face funding cuts. TPUSA was co-founded by Charlie Kirk, who Walters said should be honored with a moment of silence at each school. Some districts pushed back saying they already offer one moment of silence.
For the most part, Walters has united Oklahomans of all religious and political affiliations in despising him and everything he stands for. Watching Walters and current Gov. Kevin Stitt argue is like watching Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert (onces besties) claw at each other.
Walters, who put those stupid Bibles in classrooms, said he’s leading to be CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance which sounds like an institution to support teachers, but it’s actually anti-union. And one thing I know of all my teacher friends and acquaintances past and present, they support unions even if they are MAGA. Also it’s ironic in recent events that the TFA believes in the First Amendment for educators but is quick to denounce any teacher who said something negative about Kirk and his murder. (Please, stop calling it an assassination!)
I checked out the website at https://www.teacherfreedomalliance.com/ which looks like a generic website with stock photos. They’re claiming they have over 2,800 teachers enrolled. There are about 3.8 million teachers in America. Way to go! You’re almost there. Everything begins with that first step.
Of course, Stitt is also going to be termed out in 2026 and many Oklahomans feel he’s going to make a big for the governorship, which passes Joe Exotic as the most outrageous candidate for the position in recent history. But I don’t believe in odd coincidences. If someone was just saying the other day, he’s going to double-down on a conservative religious agenda is now ready to take a job in the private sector.
Something tells me that a criminal investigation has begun and the shit is about to hit the fan.
Either way, it’s a great day for America and American education because Walters isn’t going to be around anymore.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 