Ryan Walters was appointed by Gov. Stitt to Oklahoma Secretary of Education in 2020 and won election as Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2022 by a 13% margin.
Yet, on February 11, Gov. Stitt removed three members of Walter’s board (the majority of the appointed members on that board), with no prior notice.
Per the Substack V1SUT, “Stitt’s dissatisfaction appears to have stemmed from the January 28th SBE meeting in which Walters and the three (3) members in attendance, all since removed from the board, voted to require schools to collect information about the immigration status and origin of incoming students to assist in planning educational services.”
To read the perspective of one of the Board of Education members who was removed, read OK Gov Stitt Gives Backroom Ultimatum: Team Stitt or Team Walters/Trump by V1SUT.
On February 27th, Ryan Walters said he will “continue to unapologetically fight for President Trump’s agenda here in Oklahoma.”
In another turn, now the legislature is considering a bill to give Board of Education members the ability to place an item on the meeting agenda.
Moms for Liberty says, “Ryan Walters was hired to do a job, and Governor Stitt is attempting to change the law so he can put roadblocks up for Walters’ progress. Stitt is asking legislators to do it this session. We are asking citizens to call, text, or email their House Rep and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 1491. Please share far and wide!…We are Oklahoma, a conservative state. Let’s remind our legislators who they work for—US!!”