Andrea Eger
Tulsa World Projects Reporter
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Two high-ranking Senate Republicans with oversight of education policy and appropriations reacted to Ryan Walters’ impending departure by saying the Oklahoma State Department of Education must remain focused on remaining functional for students and the public schools that serve them during the academic year that is already underway.
Gov. Kevin Stitt is reportedly still awaiting Walters’ resignation notice before he can appoint someone to fill out the 16 months remaining in Walters’ unexpired term. The highly controversial state superintendent announced on a Fox News national cable television program late Wednesday night that he would soon be stepping down to assume a role in the private sector.
“The Ryan Walters era is over. There are going to be loose ends to tie up because the superintendent is resigning, but there are requirements, obligations right now that have to be done and I think that should be the priority,” said Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, a member of the state Senate education and appropriations committees. “If the person the governor appoints wants to run and then have a big plan for the next four years, fine. But we need to cut the lawn now — we can worry about the flowers and the trees later.”
Rader said he believes the prospects of finding someone with the right qualifications are good, and he thinks Gov. Stitt will have his pick of numerous individuals who could do an admirable job filling in until voters make their own choice about the fate of that statewide office in November 2026.
After serving nearly a decade in the Oklahoma Legislature, Rader, who is currently chair to the Senate Republican Caucus, thinks the Office of State Superintendent requires “a person of vision and a person of extreme talents.”
“There is an opportunity here for somebody to bring some unity about,” he said.
State Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is rumored to be considering a run for state superintendent in 2026, but he declined to address those rumors when asked by the Tulsa World.
But he did share his hope that the rank-and-file employees at the state Department of Education will be able to remain focused on keeping the trains running on time, so to speak.
“The governor has not asked my opinion, and we’re going to work with whoever it is,” said Pugh, chair of the Senate Education Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The focus of this has to be we are serving the kids, we are serving school districts.
“There is a staff there at the state Department of Education that is still in place. Let’s make sure services don’t get interrupted. School districts need their questions answered. The Legislature passed some pretty significant legislation this year that has to get implemented.”
One of the greatest questions at the moment is whether the state education agency budget will be approved by the state Board of Education in time to meet the annual statutory deadline of Oct. 1 — which is Wednesday.
Board members have requested that a special meeting be set in time for the board to take up the budget, which a majority voted to table last week amid Walters’ impending departure.
Pugh said he and others in the state Legislature are committed to helping in any way they can.
“There may be a natural proclivity for all of this to be delayed as the acting superintendent, somebody new, gets up to speed,” he said. That individual — whenever they are named — they are going to be stepping into that budget submission.
“We have always worked with the department to answer questions and we are going to give the agency grace as long as they stay focused on students, knowing that this change is occurring. As long as people remain and the work is the focus and the mission of the department isn’t compromised, we’re going to be OK.”
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com
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Andrea Eger
Tulsa World Projects Reporter
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