Republican state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters says he is resigning his elected post to become the chief executive officer of an organization he’s used taxpayer money to promote.
Appearing on Fox News at Night on Wednesday, Sept. 24, Walters told host Trace Gallagher he will lead the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a new professional organization that touts itself as “an alternative to union membership” for teachers. It is a part of the Freedom Foundation, a far-right anti-labor union think tank.
Walters once compared teachers’ unions to terrorist organizations. He has touted the Teacher Freedom Alliance on both social media and through multiple news releases on his official state letterhead.
“We’re going to destroy the teachers’ unions,” Walters told Gallagher. “We have seen the teachers’ unions use money and power to corrupt our schools, to undermine our schools. We are one of the biggest grassroots organizations in the country. We will build an army of teachers to defeat the teachers’ union once and for all. So this fight’s going national and we will get our schools back on track. We will not allow any further union control.”
He did not disclose further details, such as when he planned to submit his resignation.
Walters had teased the announcement hours before his appearance, saying on X that he would share “big news.”
“Liberal’s (sic) worst nightmare is about to come true,” he posted at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.
After Walters made the announcement, Teacher Freedom Alliance confirmed his hiring, saying it marked a “bold new era of leadership” for the organization. On its website, the group says it has 2,617 teachers who are members.
One of Walters’ chief political rivals, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, wasted little time in taking a jab at Walters after he announced he would resign, emailing a statement to media within five minutes of Walters’ appearance on the Fox News show.
“It’s time for a State Superintendent of Public Instruction who will actually focus on quality instruction in our public schools,” Drummond said.
Multiple Oklahoma Democrats, who often criticize Walters, also quickly issued statements. Sen. Jo Anna Dossett of Tulsa said simply, “Thank God.”
Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt said she wasn’t surprised Walters “has chosen his own personal ambitions over serving our students and teachers, like he always has. Republicans failed to hold him accountable to do his job and they should be embarrassed he’s left this office of his own accord. I am looking forward to working with the next state superintendent to return the focus to our students, teachers, and schools, where it should have been all along.”
To resign, Walters would need to submit a notice to Stitt. The Oklahoma State Board of Education, which Walters chairs, is scheduled to meet Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Once Walters resigns, the governor would appoint a new superintendent to fill out the rest of Walters’ term, which will end in January 2027. Abegail Cave, a spokeswoman for Stitt, said Wednesday afternoon there are “no openings in state government that we’re aware of yet.”
NOTUS, a nonprofit news organization, and Wendy Suares, a reporter for Oklahoma City television station KOKH, cited unnamed sources in first reporting Walters’ potential resignation Wednesday.
That Walters would make the announcement on Fox News is not a surprise. He frequently appears on the network and other conservative news talk shows, including earlier on Wednesday afternoon when he claimed that students at every one of the hundreds of schools in Oklahoma had submitted requests to start a chapter of Turning Point USA, the right-wing youth organization co-founded by slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Walters’ agenda for Oklahoma public schools has drawn national attention to a state that consistently ranks poorly for its education system. He has ordered public schools to teach from the Bible, honor Kirk with a moment of silence and show students a video of him praying for President Donald Trump.
After Trump was elected, Walters unsuccessfully tried to require schools to report the immigration statuses of students and their families. That proposal generated widespread backlash, including from Stitt, a fellow Republican. The governor ultimately overhauled the State Board of Education, a move that has significantly limited Walters’ power.
Walters also appeared to be snubbed by Stitt and Trump’s administration when U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon traveled to Oklahoma in August and appeared with the governor, rather than Walters. A spokesperson later said Walters had been out of state.
Years earlier, it was Stitt who launched Walters’ political career in Oklahoma when he appointed him as secretary of education. Walters then ran for state superintendent and took office in 2023.
Before he became a state official, Walters was a high school social studies teacher in his hometown of McAlester.
It’s unclear who Stitt might tap to replace Walters.
State Sens. Adam Pugh of Edmond and Shane Jett of Shawnee, as well as former state Rep. Mark McBride of Moore, were all among the names being discussed at the Capitol on Wednesday as potential successors. All are Republicans, and Pugh and McBride have become known for focusing on educational issues.
Pugh and Jett have not responded to The Oklahoman’s messages for comments.
McBride told The Oklahoman he’d be honored to serve as superintendent, but said he was on a plane and doesn’t know if there’s any truth to the rumor that Walters would resign.
Contributing: Staff Writers Alexia Aston and Alex Gladden
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters announces resignation on Trace Gallagher Fox News show
