Ryan Walters resigns as Oklahoma superintendent: Democrats criticize leadership; call for reforms

Ryan Walters has resigned as Oklahoma State Superintendent to take another job. Senate Democrats criticized his leadership and said the state must now focus on public schools, teachers, and students.

Ryan Walters has resigned from his position as Oklahoma State Superintendent. The announcement was made this week. He is stepping down to accept another job, but no details about the new role have been shared.

Walters is a Republican and a former classroom teacher. He became state superintendent in 2023. His time in office received criticism from several lawmakers, especially from the Democratic Party.

Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt from Oklahoma City made a statement after the resignation. She said Walters chose personal ambition over serving students and teachers. “It’s no surprise Ryan Walters has chosen his own personal ambitions over serving our students and teachers, like he always has,” Kirt said in a release from the Oklahoma State Senate.

She also said Republican leaders failed to ensure that Walters did his job properly. Kirt called the resignation “a source of embarrassment.” She said she was ready to work with the next superintendent to improve the education system.

Senator Carri Hicks, also a Democrat from Oklahoma City, said the resignation is a chance to move forward. “Oklahoma has the chance to turn the page and come together around a shared vision for strong public schools,” Hicks said in the Senate release. She said the state should invest more in teachers and in school resources to help students do well.

Senator Mark Mann, also from Oklahoma City, said Walters’ resignation is good news for families, students, and teachers. “The departure of Ryan Walters is great news for Oklahoma students, families, and teachers,” Mann said. He said the state should now focus on students and on improving its national education ranking. “Now, we can focus our efforts on serving students and raising our national rankings from dead last,” he said.

The state has not announced who will replace Walters. It is also not known when the next superintendent will be named. No further information has been released by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Q: Why did Ryan Walters resign as Oklahoma State Superintendent?
He resigned to take another job. No details have been shared about the new position.

Q: What did Julia Kirt say about his resignation?
She said Walters put personal goals ahead of his responsibilities and called the resignation an embarrassment.

Q: What did Carri Hicks and Mark Mann say?
They said the resignation is an opportunity to improve public schools and focus on students and teachers.