With 2024 in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for a report card on Ryan Walters’ performance as superintendent of Oklahoma’s public schools.
With legislators and others calling for more accountability in how taxpayer money for public schools is being spent, The Oklahoman is asking its readers to give Walters a grade for his work in 2024. Did he earn an “A?” An “F?” Or something in between? Please check the appropriate box in the poll below and add a comment if you’d like. Be sure to add your name and hometown.
To help with your decision, listed below is a chronology of some of Walters’ key actions during the year:
December
∎ Walters posted a video on social media announcing that Oklahoma will have no “sanctuary schools,” and that the state will work with the administration of President-elect Donald Trump to help end illegal immigration.
∎ Walters released revised social studies curriculum requirements for state schools.
November
∎ Walters announced support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education
October
∎ Along with Gov. Kevin Stitt, Walters was called “grossly negligent” by the state’s multi-county grand jury for misspending millions of dollars of COVID pandemic relief funds.
∎ On “Indigenous People’s Day, Walters posted on Facebook a message honoring “the historic accomplishment of Christopher Columbus’ voyage that ultimately discovered the New World.”
Ryan Walters speaks at a roundtable at the Warner Public School Event Center in Warner Okla., on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
∎ Walters was criticized by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond for delaying the purchase of emergency asthma inhalers for public schools.
September
∎ Walters called for $500,000 for teacher firearm training.
∎ Walters called for Bibles to be provided for all Oklahoma classrooms. Bidding documents show only the “Trump Bible” would qualify for purchase.
August
∎ Walters confirmed that Oklahoma’s testing process for schools has been changed significantly without any public notification.
July
∎ Walters announced new requirement for teaching the Bible in public schools and said “rouge schools” who don’t comply will be held accountable.
June
∎ Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that school districts, not Walters or the state education department, have the authority to choose books for school libraries.
May
∎ In the wake of news reports about Walters’ out-of-state spending, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill prohibiting state funds to be used (unless required by law) “for securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes.” Gov. Kevin Stitt used the line-item veto to delete those sections of the law before signing the bill, but then issued an executive order prohibiting spending public money on such items.
April
At least 65 people had left their jobs with the Oklahoma State Department of Education since July of the previous year, according to resignation letters and termination forms obtained by The Oklahoman. That raised the total number of employees who had departed the agency since state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters took office to more than 130.
March
∎ Records released showing Walters billed taxpayers thousands of dollars for out-of-state trips to appear on talk shows and make other public appearances.
February
∎ Walters said the fact that he was elected by voters gives him the authority to choose books for school libraries. A lawsuit was filed opposing this claim.
∎ Walters said two books in the Edmond high school libraries contained pornographic material and threatened to lower the district’s accreditation score if they were not removed.
January
∎ After an error in awarding bonuses to teachers, Walters announced the state was demanding the money be paid back. He has yet to acknowledge any error on his part or on the part of the state Department of Education in the matter. Two teachers who received the bonus in error are suing Walters.
∎ Walters announced the appointment of right-wing blogger Chaya Raichik to the state’s Library Media Advisory Committee.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoman Poll: Give Ryan Walters a grade for his performance in 2024
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