Steve Metzer
Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Ryan Walters heralded what he described as Oklahoma’s national leadership role in education in remarks delivered Wednesday to a Christian conservative group a day after he formally resigned as the state’s superintendent of public instruction.
In a brief address to members of the OCPAC Foundation, Walters vowed to continue advocating for Christian values and American exceptionalism in education as he takes on a new job as chief executive officer of the Teacher Freedom Foundation, an affiliate of the conservative Freedom Foundation.
“We’ve got to get our schools back on track, and, folks, we did it here in Oklahoma with the most aggressive agenda in state history,” he said. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re staying in Oklahoma City, so I’ll be very involved in the state and will continue to be a part of OCPAC.”
Walters’ abbreviated tenure as superintendent will be the subject of continuing scrutiny.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Wednesday called for an investigative audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
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Separately, a state lawmaker, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, filed a formal complaint with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Monday alleging that unabashed promotion of the Teacher Freedom Alliance by Walters prior to his hiring by the organization raised questions about his ethics.
In his remarks, Walters brushed aside controversy that has dogged him during much of his time in office. He vowed to continue working to “destroy” teachers’ unions that he said have pushed radical leftwing beliefs on children. He also took direct aim at the media.
“Let’s talk about the fake news media. We’ve got some of them in the room here with us today. Guys… they lie to you. They gaslight you,” he said.
Walters touted his achievements as superintendent and slammed the media and teacher unions for giving the state a bad reputation.
“There’s a reason why Oklahoma has now become a national model for education reform,” he said. “There’s a reason why over two dozen states are introducing initiatives to bring the Bible back to the classroom, to bring history standards back to American exceptionalism, to bring parents’ choice back to the classroom. But, of course, the fake news media wants you to believe all these things aren’t true.”
Walters, who opted to resign more than a year before his tenure as superintendent was due to end, said he would continue to stand up for Oklahoma.
“We are going to absolutely ensure that Christians that are under attack are protected and that this is a Christian nation as it was designed to be and is so integral to what makes America exceptional,” he said.
Walters drew a standing ovation from more than 100 people who attended the OCPAC meeting at the Oklahoma History Center.
steve.metzer@tulsaworld.com
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Steve Metzer
Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer
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