Ryan Walters: Oklahoma Education Background and Controversies
Ryan Walters' career in Oklahoma education has been marked by both recognition and controversy. From his early days as a teacher to his tenure as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Walters has been a figure of significant influence, shaping educational policies and sparking debates across the state.
Early Life and Career
Ryan Walters was born on May 23, 1985, in McAlester, Oklahoma. His father was a bank executive, and his mother worked at Eastern Oklahoma State College. Walters grew up in McAlester and graduated from Harding University in 2010. He returned to his hometown to teach at McAlester High School in 2012.
Walters' early career was marked by accolades. In 2016, he was named McAlester Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for State Teacher of the Year. He taught various subjects, including government, history, special education, and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) classes. Colleagues and supervisors praised his commitment to students and his innovative teaching methods.
Rise to Political Prominence
Walters' entry into the political arena began in 2018. He met future governor Kevin Stitt at a tennis tournament, and the two became friends. That same year, Walters published three articles in the conservative magazine The Federalist. He was also appointed to the Oklahoma Community Service Commission by Governor Mary Fallin in 2018 and to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability by Governor Stitt in 2019.
In September 2020, Governor Stitt appointed Walters as Secretary of Education for the State of Oklahoma. In this role, Walters was responsible for overseeing various educational agencies, boards, and commissions, including the State Board of Education, College and University Boards of Regents or Trustees, the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, and the State Board of Career and Technology Education.
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During his time as Secretary of Education, Walters also served as the executive director of Every Kid Counts Oklahoma (EKCO), an education-related nonprofit organization. This dual role drew scrutiny, as Walters was paid approximately $120,000 a year by EKCO, compared to his state salary of $40,000. EKCO aimed to empower teachers, parents, and community leaders to improve the state's education system.
Campaign for State Superintendent
Walters ran for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction in a June 2022 primary as one of four Republican candidates, alongside John Cox, William Crozier, and April Grace. He was endorsed in the primary by Governor Kevin Stitt and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Walters advanced to an August run-off alongside April Grace, which he won with 53% of the vote.
During his campaign, Walters promoted the "litter boxes in schools" hoax. He defeated the Democratic Party's nominee, Jena Nelson, in the general election. After the campaign, Walters was fined for 14 violations of state campaign finance ethics rules.
Tenure as State Superintendent: Policies and Controversies
Ryan Walters assumed office as Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 9, 2023. His tenure has been marked by a series of policy decisions and controversies that have drawn both support and criticism.
Curriculum and Instruction
Walters has advocated for incorporating Christian values and principles into the state's education system. He supported teaching the Christian Bible in public schools, arguing that it is a historically significant book and a cornerstone of Western civilization. In June 2024, Walters sent a memo to all Oklahoma school districts ordering them to have a Bible in every fifth- through twelfth-grade classroom and to adopt curriculum teaching the Bible.
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These efforts have faced legal challenges and criticism from First Amendment advocates and school districts, who argue that they violate the separation of church and state. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oklahoma, among others, has voiced concerns about the imposition of religious doctrine on students and families in public schools.
Walters also attempted to reject the American Library Association's standards for information literacy, calling the current standards "woke." He implemented an "anti-woke" test for teachers relocating from California or New York, developed by PragerU, a right-wing media organization. The test includes questions about religion, gender, and government, and aims to protect Oklahoma from "radical leftist ideology."
In 2023, Oklahoma announced a partnership with PragerU to create state-specific educational materials. This partnership has been criticized for promoting a biased and incomplete view of history, including downplaying the significance of slavery.
School Choice and Funding
Walters has been a proponent of school choice initiatives, including charter schools and school vouchers. He supported the creation of the nation's first religious public charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School, although the Oklahoma Supreme Court ultimately ruled against public funding for the school.
Walters has also faced scrutiny over the allocation of state education funds. In August 2023, The Oklahoman reported that a state audit found $1.7 million was spent on non-educational items under the Bridge the Gap program, which Walters oversaw.
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Personnel and Governance
Walters' tenure has been marked by conflicts with other education officials and governing bodies. He successfully campaigned for the removal of Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist. He appointed far-right activist Chaya Raichik to the Oklahoma Library Advisory Board, a decision that sparked controversy due to Raichik's history of online attacks against LGBTQ+ individuals.
In July 2023, Walters asked the Oklahoma Department of Education Board to delay a vote on Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) state accreditation. Ultimately, the State Board of Education voted to approve Tulsa Public Schools as "accreditation with deficiencies."
Walters has also clashed with the Oklahoma State Board of Education. In February 2025, Governor Stitt ousted three members of the board, criticizing the board's "political drama."
Controversies and Scandals
Walters' tenure has been plagued by several controversies and scandals. His response to the death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old non-binary Owasso High School student, generated national calls for his removal from office in February 2024.
In September 2025, it was reported that Walters had spent hundreds of thousands of state dollars meant for education on contracts with PR firms outside Oklahoma to promote his personal image, despite a ban on such spending by Governor Stitt.
In July 2025, Oklahoma State Board of Education members alleged that a television in Walters' office was displaying footage of nude women during a board meeting. While Walters denied the allegations, the incident led to an investigation by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.
During a July 2023 town hall, Walters made comments about the Tulsa Race Massacre that sparked social media backlash. He stated, "Let's not tie it to the skin color and say that the skin color determined that."
Calls for Resignation and Impeachment
In May 2024, Oklahoma House of Representatives Democrats called on Governor Stitt to call for Walters' resignation. In August 2024, state representative Mark McBride released a letter signed by several other Republican legislators calling for a special House investigation into Walters, the first step toward impeachment in Oklahoma. The issues addressed in the letter included failing to distribute school funds, disobeying state laws, and failure to respond to open records requests.
Ethics Investigations and Settlements
Walters has faced multiple ethics investigations during his time in office. In January 2025, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced it would investigate Walters for allegedly violating state ethics rules by using a social media account with his official title to support Donald Trump. He settled with the commission in March 2025, agreeing to pay a civil penalty and legal fees.
In March 2025, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced it would pursue an ethics complaint against Walters regarding alleged violations of campaign finance rules from his 2022 election committee. He settled with the commission in May 2025, agreeing to pay a civil penalty, legal fees, and to provide refunds to donors who over-contributed to his 2022 election campaign.
Resignation
On September 23, 2025, it was reported that Walters had spent hundreds of thousands of state dollars meant for education on contracts with PR firms outside Oklahoma in order to promote his personal image. The day after the scandal was reported on, Walters announced he would resign from office.
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