Ryan Walters
Tulsa district weighing school closures at urging of Oklahoma education officials
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tulsa Public Schools now faces the possibility of closing schools as the state adds new demands for academic improvement. The Oklahoma State Board of Education created another set of goals for Tulsa to achieve by the end of the school year, and state Superintendent Ryan Walters said “all options are on the […]
Oklahoma schools turning to the new, old way of teaching students to read
In a classroom full of future teachers at Oklahoma State University, Robin Fuxa instructs her students to count sounds in words like “map” and “can,” by placing pennies on a corresponding chart. “Let’s look at ‘stop’,” Fuxa prompts. “Ss-tuh-ah-puh,” her students respond in unison. “Four,” they count and move four pennies into the sound boxes […]
Oklahoma board wants proposed textbooks altered after Moms for Liberty complained
OKLAHOMA CITY — A state board requested a major publisher remove portions of its math textbooks for students in pre-K through fifth grade after a local conservative group complained. Despite the textbooks receiving the top rating from a review team made up of dozens of teachers, the chairwoman of the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee on […]
Tulsa interim superintendent says district turnaround is a ‘beautiful challenge’
OKLAHOMA CITY — To Ebony Johnson, F stands for focused. It designates a school that needs time, money and talent from Tulsa Public Schools’ leaders. Recent state report cards show 22 Tulsa schools need that level of focus from the district after being graded an F for their performance last school year. Johnson has handled […]
Oklahoma public schools show continued academic struggle in state report cards
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s public school system showed consistent levels of academic results but weakening growth in the 2022-23 school year compared to the year before. The Oklahoma State Report Card, released Wednesday, grades the success of every school in the state, as well as the overall performance of the public education system. Only 27% […]
Ryan Walters’ administration tasked with offering Civil Rights Movement curriculum
OKLAHOMA CITY — A new law that took effect last week mandates that state education officials develop a curriculum on the Civil Rights Movement, a requirement that has raised doubts among Black leaders in Oklahoma. House Bill 1397 instructs the Oklahoma State Department of Education to develop and make available an optional curriculum on Martin […]
Controversial PragerU videos gain educational foothold in a handful of states
In July, Florida became the first state to allow schools to incorporate instructional videos with a conservative viewpoint from vendor PragerU into their classroom materials. Oklahoma and Montana rapidly followed. New Hampshire in September approved the use of online PragerU videos to satisfy financial literacy requirements in public schools. PragerU and one state education board […]
Stitt Cabinet official’s concerns over Oklahoma education agency finances prompted resignation
OKLAHOMA CITY — The governor’s former education secretary said she resigned from her position after three months because the state superintendent’s administration limited her oversight of his agency. Katherine Curry said she repeatedly asked for financial documents showing how the agency budgeted and spent money, but the Oklahoma State Department of Education never provided them. […]
Ryan Walters endorses Donald Trump, plans to join his reelection team
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top education official has endorsed former President Donald Trump for reelection, a split from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s choice for the Republican nominee. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said on Wednesday he received a call from Trump this week and would join the former president’s reelection team. “I fully stand behind President Trump, […]
Textbook publishers withdraw from Oklahoma as fight over classroom content grows
OKLAHOMA CITY — An increasingly politicized fight over what is taught in public schools has caused growing alarm that Oklahoma, as a result, could be losing out on quality textbook publishers and curriculum providers, including one of the few companies that tailors its materials to the state’s academic standards. Already eight companies have withdrawn from […]
Oklahoma State Board of Education member resigns
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top school board has another vacancy. Suzanne Reynolds announced her resignation Wednesday from her at-large seat on the Oklahoma State Board of Education, bringing her 10-month tenure to an end. Gov. Kevin Stitt will appoint her to the board of regents for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, his […]
The mystery of Walters: How a beloved history teacher became Oklahoma’s culture-warrior-in-chief
Ryan Walters was one of the most well-liked teachers at McAlester High School. A history teacher and 2016 finalist for Oklahoma teacher of the year, he encouraged vigorous debates on pivotal moments like Roe v. Wade and, closer to home, the forced relocation of Native Americans known as the “Trail of Tears.” During homecoming week, […]