Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced his resignation from public office during a Wednesday night appearance on FOX News. He will transition to the private sector to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, an organization affiliated with the non-profit Freedom Foundation.
Key Takeaways
- Ryan Walters has resigned as Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- He will become the CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance (TFA) starting October 1, 2025.
- The TFA is an anti-union organization that provides alternative resources for educators.
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is now responsible for appointing a successor to complete Walters' term.
Details of the Resignation
The announcement was made on a national news broadcast, signaling a significant career change for the state's top education official. Following the televised announcement, Walters is scheduled to address the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the transition.
This move marks the end of his tenure leading Oklahoma's public school system. His term has been characterized by a strong focus on conservative education policies and frequent clashes with teachers' unions and other education groups.
New Role at Teacher Freedom Alliance
Walters is set to officially take the helm as CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance on October 1, 2025. The organization is a branch of the Freedom Foundation, a conservative non-profit that advocates against public-sector unions. According to its official statements, the Teacher Freedom Alliance aims to challenge the influence of established teachers' unions.
What is the Teacher Freedom Alliance?
The Teacher Freedom Alliance describes its mission as providing educators with services outside of traditional union structures. These services include liability insurance, professional development programs, continuing education credits, and access to alternative curriculum materials. The organization positions itself as a direct competitor to teachers' unions, which it refers to on its website as "woke liberal" groups.
The Freedom Foundation has expressed strong support for Walters' appointment. Aaron Withe, the CEO of the Freedom Foundation, commented on the decision.
“We’re honored to have Ryan Walters as the next CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance. Ryan is a proven freedom fighter who understands that America cannot restore its education system without breaking free from the grip of teachers’ unions,” Withe stated.
The organization’s website further states that Walters will help the group “take the fight straight to the unions.” This indicates that his leadership will likely involve an aggressive national strategy to reduce union membership and influence among educators.
Political Succession in Oklahoma
With Walters' departure, the responsibility of filling the vacancy falls to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. The governor will need to appoint an individual to serve as the State Superintendent for the remainder of the current term. This appointment will be crucial in determining the direction of the state's education policy in the near future.
This situation is not without precedent in Oklahoma's recent political history. A similar process occurred in 2021 when the state's Attorney General, Mike Hunter, resigned from his position.
Gubernatorial Appointments in Oklahoma
In 2021, Governor Stitt appointed John O'Connor to replace Attorney General Mike Hunter following his resignation. This established a recent example of the constitutional process for filling a vacancy in a statewide elected office. The governor's choice for a new superintendent will be closely watched by educators, parents, and lawmakers across the state.
The appointee will oversee the State Department of Education and implement policies affecting hundreds of school districts and over 700,000 students. The selection will likely reflect the governor's own educational priorities and could either continue or diverge from the policies enacted under Walters.
Previous Scrutiny and Related Controversies
Walters' connection to the Teacher Freedom Alliance was a subject of official inquiry even before his resignation. In March 2025, State Representative Ellen Pogemiller raised concerns about his activities. She submitted a formal letter to the Oklahoma Attorney General requesting an official opinion on whether Walters had used state resources to promote the TFA.
The request from Rep. Pogemiller suggested a potential conflict of interest, questioning if a public official was leveraging his position to benefit a private organization he would later lead. The outcome of that inquiry remains a point of interest following this new development.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was involved in several other high-profile initiatives and controversies. These included his announcement of support for Turning Point USA's "Club America" chapters in Oklahoma high schools and his involvement in an investigation related to a television segment that generated public debate.
As he transitions to his new national role, his legacy in Oklahoma and the future direction of the state's education system will be subjects of ongoing discussion and analysis.
