Oklahoma’s education landscape is bracing for a seismic shift as Ryan Walters, the state’s embattled Superintendent of Public Instruction, confirmed his resignation this week to take the helm of the conservative Teacher Freedom Alliance (TFA). Walters, whose tenure has been marked by culture war battles, controversy, and a relentless campaign against teachers’ unions, will step down effective October 1, 2025, according to multiple reports from The Hill, KOCO 5, and The Oklahoman. His departure sets off a scramble for new leadership in a state education system already struggling with low national rankings and deep ideological divides.
Walters announced his resignation during a Fox News appearance on September 24, 2025, declaring his intent to become CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit that, according to its website, “exists to assist educators in their mission to develop free, moral, and upright American citizens.” The TFA, which counts 2,770 teachers among its ranks, is part of the Freedom Foundation, a conservative, anti-union organization. Walters made his mission clear, stating, “We’re going to destroy the teachers unions. We have seen the teachers union use money and power to corrupt our schools, to undermine our schools.”
This rhetoric is hardly new for Walters, who, since taking office as Oklahoma’s top education official in January 2023, has leaned heavily into conservative talking points and policies. Appointed first as Secretary of Education by Governor Kevin Stitt in September 2020, Walters quickly became a fixture on national news, touting what he called an “anti-woke” agenda for Oklahoma schools. He required all public school classrooms to display the Bible and initially mandated that teachers incorporate lessons on the Bible’s role in American history, although a requirement to include founding documents was later dropped due to cost concerns, as reported by The Hill.
Walters’ tenure was also defined by a series of headline-grabbing initiatives and controversies. He announced a partnership with Turning Point USA to establish chapters in every Oklahoma public high school, a move he said was meant to honor the group’s co-founder, Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on September 10, 2025. In his words, “Parents, teachers, and students want their young people to be engaged in a process that understands free speech, open engagement, dialogue about American greatness, a dialogue around American values.”
But Walters’ approach often put him at odds with educators and advocacy groups. He promoted policies requiring social studies teachers to espouse conspiracies about the 2020 election, track the immigration status of students, and force teacher applicants from California and New York to pass an exam designed to weed out what he described as “radical leftist ideology.” These efforts led to multiple lawsuits and, according to The Washington Post, a continued decline in Oklahoma’s national education rankings.
His aggressive stance against teachers’ unions became a defining feature of his administration. In his final days, Walters called for revoking the licenses of teachers who expressed political views he opposed, especially after the death of Charlie Kirk. The Oklahoma State Department of Education, under his direction, investigated 70 teachers for allegedly posting “vile rhetoric” about Kirk. At his last meeting as chair of the State Board of Education, Walters blamed teachers’ unions for advocating on behalf of these educators, stating, “I will be unapologetic about protecting the kids of Oklahoma, fighting back against this radicalism. I don’t back down to mobs. I don’t back down to this nonsense of, ‘Well, what about all of this?’”
Reactions to Walters’ resignation have been swift and varied. The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Randi Weingarten, told The Hill through a spokesperson, “Today is a good day for Oklahoma’s kids. It’s no surprise that Mr. Walters, after failing on the job, is leaving the state. Any educator worth their salt understands it’s impossible to educate students if you don’t support teachers. Walters didn’t do that in Oklahoma and now, at a time we need to bring the country together, he’s trying to export his divisive rhetoric nationally.” The Oklahoma office of the National Education Association (NEA) echoed this sentiment, calling his departure “the beginning of a better Oklahoma” and urging a move away from divisiveness toward a collaborative approach with parents and communities.
Meanwhile, Governor Kevin Stitt, who must now appoint Walters’ successor, struck a pragmatic tone. “Oklahoma students remain my top priority, and with my first appointment to this role, I will be seeking a leader who is fully focused on the job Oklahomans expect: delivering real outcomes and driving a turnaround in our education system,” Stitt said in a statement.
Speculation about who will fill the vacancy has already begun. As reported by KOCO 5, potential candidates include Nellie Sanders, the current Oklahoma Secretary of Education, who was appointed by Stitt in January 2025 and has a background in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sanders has emphasized providing more school options, listening to families, and embracing innovation. Another name floated is former state Rep. Mark McBride, a vocal critic of Walters who has previously called for investigations into his conduct and even circulated a letter urging his impeachment. McBride has publicly stated he would be “honored to serve in a role that pushes Oklahoma education forward.”
Whoever is appointed will serve as interim superintendent until the next election in 2026, with five candidates already having filed to run, according to the State Ethics Commission. But the timing of the appointment remains uncertain. Walters’ official resignation notice must be filed before Stitt can act, and as of Friday, September 26, no timeline had been set. “We have no timeline until we have an empty seat,” Stitt’s spokesperson told The Oklahoman.
Walters, for his part, insists that his resignation is not a result of the controversies he faced. Speaking to KOCO 5, he said that the shooting death of Charlie Kirk motivated him to take his fight to a national stage: “More voices needed to be heard on a national stage to protect this country’s values.” He will remain in Oklahoma as he leads the Teacher Freedom Alliance, continuing to promote its anti-union agenda both locally and nationally.
His exit has prompted celebrations among some Oklahoma educators and advocacy groups, with at least three “farewell parties” planned, including one at an Oklahoma City cider house pledging to donate proceeds to teachers. Yet, for many in the state, Walters’ departure is less an ending than a new chapter in an ongoing struggle over the direction and values of public education in Oklahoma.
As the state awaits new leadership, the challenges ahead are formidable: reversing declining education metrics, healing deep divisions, and charting a course that serves all Oklahoma students. The next superintendent will inherit not just a job, but a battleground.
