Republican Ryan Walters, the leading official of Oklahoma’s public schools system, declared on Wednesday during a national television interview that he will be stepping down from his position to assume the role of CEO for a conservative educational organization.
At 40, Walters shared on Fox News that his decision to leave public education is to take the helm of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting educators in their aim to cultivate free-thinking, moral, and principled American citizens.
“Our aim is to dismantle the teachers unions,” Walters stated on Fox. “The unions have wielded money and influence to corrupt and disrupt our education system.”
Walters has been a contentious figure due to his leadership choices, garnering both acclaim and criticism from the public in Oklahoma. He has previously mandated that public schools incorporate the Bible into their curriculum and required students to view a video of him offering prayers for President Donald Trump.
Walters told in August he was ensuring the state’s school curriculum was in line with Trump’s orders to ban “woke ideologies” in education.
“In Oklahoma, we are echoing President Trump’s direction to restore truth and reality in education,” Walters conveyed. “We will advocate for teaching science authentically and presenting American history in a patriotic manner, without apology.”
At the time Walters took office, Oklahoma was ranked 49th in education and 47th in spending per student according to education reports.
On Tuesday, Walters revealed the establishment of Turning Point USA chapters in Oklahoma high schools. He stated that parents, educators, and students desire a process for young individuals to embrace free speech and engage in discussions about American excellence and shared values.
Charlie Kirk founded the organization to mobilize young, Christian conservatives. It has seen a surge in interest and support since the activist’s killing on Sept. 10.
‘s Jordan Perkins contributed to this report.
