- Of the nine statewide officials sworn into office on Monday, four began new terms, including State Supt. Ryan Walters and Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
- Ryan Walters said ridding the state department of education of “liberal indoctrination” was a top priority, which could include staff changes.
- In his inaugural address, Gov. Kevin Stitt said Oklahoma needed to provide more school options for students.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters said purging the state’s education agency of “liberal indoctrination” will be a top priority during his first weeks in office, which could include changes to some of the nearly 400 people who work at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
“We are going to make sure we get all indoctrination out of the department; we are going to make sure we hold folks accountable that have been pushing that,” Walters told The Oklahoman on Monday, hours before he was sworn in as the new state superintendent of public instruction.
“You are going to see us move very quickly on that.”
Monday was the first day in office for four statewide officials, all Republicans. In addition to Walters, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Treasurer Todd Russ and Corporation Commissioner Kim David were sworn in to begin their first terms.
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Monday’s inauguration ceremony was headlined by Gov. Kevin Stitt, who was reelected in November.
But Walters may be the most high-profile incoming official after he campaigned on a promise to go after liberal educators, reconsider the use of federal funds and advocate for taxpayer-funded private school vouchers.
Walters hasn’t identified specific personnel or programs he intends to change but said announcements would be coming soon, including his chief of staff.
Walters gives the governor an ally atop the state Education Department, an agency he has regularly criticized, especially when the former superintendent, Joy Hofmeister, ran against him last year.
Stitt has said education and expanding school choice policies will be a top issue for him during his second term, on which he expects to work closely with Walters.
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“We must give students more access to learning methods that fit their unique needs,” Stitt said during his inaugural address. “We need more schools, not less schools, like the fearmongers claimed when we called for change.”
While Stitt’s pick for superintendent took office, his attorney general left it.
Drummond, who beat John O’Connor in last year’s Republican primary, said he plans to investigate corruption across state government, including any attached to the governor.
“I will aggressively ensure that our tax dollars are protected, and I will hold accountable any and all bad actors,” Drummond told The Oklahoman.
David, a former state senator, also was sworn into the three-person corporation commission, which oversees the state agency that regulates public utilities, some aspects of railroad infrastructure, and various parts of oil and gas production.
“I’m just excited to go,” said David, who mentioned utility rate increase requests as a top issue she will face over her first few months in office.
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