{"id":751557,"date":"2025-10-01T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/?p=751557"},"modified":"2025-10-13T14:50:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T19:50:02","slug":"dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/","title":{"rendered":"Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters Tenure"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-custom-everlit-iframe-embed\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Everlit Audio Player\" src=\"https:\/\/everlit.audio\/embeds\/artl_XPvkGHD3ENQ?client=wp&amp;client_version=2.6.0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80px\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters resigned Tuesday, nearly a week after his surprise announcement on FOX News that he\u2019s stepping down to take a position in the private sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walters starts his new role leading an anti-teacher-union organization, the Teacher Freedom Alliance, today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s now up to Gov. Kevin Stitt to appoint someone to fulfill the 15 months remaining on the superintendent\u2019s term. One of Walters\u2019 early political allies, Stitt appointed Walters secretary of education in 2020 and endorsed him in the 2022 race for superintendent. But the relationship soured; Stitt publicly <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomavoice.com\/2025\/02\/12\/oklahoma-governor-rejects-immigration-checks-in-schools-says-walters-should-be-held-accountable\/\">disagreed<\/a> with Walters\u2019 controversial immigration policy, and <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/newsroom\/2025\/governor-stitt-shakes-up-oklahoma-state-board-of-education.html\">overhauled<\/a> the board of education with new members willing to challenge Walters\u2019 proposals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Republican culture warrior grabbed headlines throughout his tenure as the state schools chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s been anti-conventional in almost every respect,\u201d said Brett Sharp, a professor of public administration at the University of Central Oklahoma. \u201cIt\u2019s just so off-the-wall, even for Oklahoma.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A former high school history teacher, Walters left the classroom in 2019 to lead an education initiative for the State Chamber, which later became Every Kid Counts Oklahoma. The organization bungled an $8 million federal pandemic program, leading to more than $1 million in unauthorized purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignright ts-4 is-1 is-landscape is-style-borders\" style=\"\">\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"747698\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>the latest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"754196\" class=\"tag-attorney-general tag-cdc tag-covid-19 tag-george-monks tag-measles tag-oklahoma-news tag-oklahoma-state-department-of-health tag-oklahoma-state-medical-association tag-whooping-cough category-health category-publichealth type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/05\/oklahoma-health-department-refuses-to-share-county-level-measles-data\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Oklahoma Health Department Refuses to Share County-Level Measles Data\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/05\/oklahoma-health-department-refuses-to-share-county-level-measles-data\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Oklahoma Health Department Refuses to Share County-Level Measles Data<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/author\/paulmonies\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" alt=\"Avatar photo\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Paul-Monies.jpg?resize=48%2C48&amp;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Paul-Monies-96x96.jpg 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-48 photo\" height=\"48\" width=\"48\"><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/author\/paulmonies\/\">Paul Monies<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-05T06:01:00-06:00\">January 5, 2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-05T11:05:42-06:00\">January 5, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p>Elected with 57% of the vote in 2022, Walters made waves early by removing the Educator Hall of Fame from the Education Department offices and, in a budget hearing at the Capitol, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oklahoman.com\/story\/news\/education\/2023\/05\/01\/ryan-walters-oklahoma-legislature-hearing-superintendent-calls-teacher-union-terrorist-organization\/70147869007\/\">called the state\u2019s teachers\u2019 union a terrorist organization,<\/a> setting off a firestorm and bringing the committee hearing to an abrupt end.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His administration racked up dozens of lawsuits, on everything from wrongful termination and slander claims to policies over library books, Bible purchases and academic standards. Few have gone his way, but most are still pending; the frequent turnover in the agency\u2019s legal department led to delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the lawsuits was one filed by NexStar and KFOR-TV over access to public Board of Education meetings, one of many run-ins Walters had in his highly contentious relationship with state media. A federal judge signed a temporary order granting KFOR meeting access, and in December, facilitated a settlement that ensured KFOR could continue to cover meetings. Walters and his former spokesman were later ordered to reimburse the plaintiffs $170,000 in attorneys\u2019 fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multiple agencies investigated Walters after two board members reported seeing nude women on a TV in his office during the executive session of the board\u2019s July meeting. Walters claimed the accusations were lies and a political attack on his character. Investigators ultimately determined the images were from an obscure Jackie Chan movie accidentally playing on a cable channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom the beginning to the end, he just tried to politicize our education system in a way that really harms our students and teachers,\u201d said Christine Pappas, a professor of political science and legal studies at East Central University in Ada.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walters touted his accomplishments in an email to public school parents on Tuesday. Among them: school choice expansion, teacher merit pay, new literacy programs, and bringing Bibles back to classrooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cServing as your state superintendent has been an honor,\u201d he wrote. \u201cTogether, we have delivered the most historic education reforms in Oklahoma\u2019s history, in record time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s where some of those reforms and initiatives stand today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Teacher Bonuses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of Walters\u2019 first major policy initiatives was a program to award new and returning teachers bonuses of $15,000 to $50,000, which he announced in April 2023. But the agency mistakenly paid some teachers who didn\u2019t qualify and demanded the money back, months after the money was distributed. Two teachers sued; their case is pending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walters said his agency ultimately distributed more than $15 million in the first year through merit pay and bonus programs. That includes the Teacher Empowerment Program, created by the Legislature in 2022, which funds bonuses through money collected from the lottery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bibles for Classrooms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walters\u2019 unrelenting push to see Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms included demands that school leaders incorporate the Bible as an instructional support. In October 2024,\u00a0a month before the presidential election, his agency opened bids for a contract to spend millions on 55,000 Bibles with narrowly tailored specs that seemed to only fit the Trump-endorsed \u201cGod Bless America\u201d Bible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposal sparked a lawsuit, and in March, the Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/03\/11\/court-blocks-superintendent-walters-bible-purchase-for-now\/\">blocked<\/a> the state from furthering the Bible initiative until the case is resolved.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walters ultimately spent $24,500 <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/education\/newsroom\/2025\/march\/osde-to-provide-bibles-for-all-ap-us-government-classrooms.html\">to buy<\/a> 500 Trump Bibles for AP Government classes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Free Speech Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even before his election, Walters called for educators to be stripped of their teaching licenses over political statements, a penalty typically reserved for serious offenses such as child abuse, predatory behavior or criminal charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, while education secretary, Walters called for Norman teacher Summer Boismier to lose her teaching license over a classroom display that shared a QR code linking students to the Brooklyn library. Instead of revocation, the agency refused to renew her certification. Boismier has asked a judge to be reinstated.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, the agency <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2024\/09\/13\/state-seeks-to-decertify-teacher-over-5-year-old-instagram-family-photo\/\">moved<\/a> to strip teachers Regan Killackey and Alison Scott of their teaching certificates over Trump-related social media posts. The Board of Education hasn\u2019t yet voted on either.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in September, the department announced it was investigating 70 certified educators from 44 districts over statements regarding the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Social Studies Standards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To further his Bible initiative, Walters spearheaded an overhaul of the state\u2019s academic standards in social studies. He tapped national conservative media pundits and right-wing policy advocates to develop the standards, including Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts and PragerU Founder Dennis Prager.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board of Education in February <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/02\/27\/board-of-education-approves-controversial-social-studies-standards\/\">approved<\/a> the standards, which contain more than 40 references to the Bible and Christianity, as well as election fraud theories.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents filed two separate lawsuits. One challenge was dismissed but is on appeal; the other is pending in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which, in September, <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-supreme-court-temporarily-halts-social-studies-standards\/\">temporarily blocked <\/a>the standards.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Self-Promotion<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it seems like Walters is always on national TV, that\u2019s by design. Since early 2024, the agency has contracted with the D.C. area firm Vought Strategies for $5,000 per month to book Walters interviews with national media outlets and write op-eds,\u00a0despite Stitt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahoma.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/newsroom\/2024\/june2024\/governor-stitt-issues-order-banning-wasteful-pr-spending--ensuri.html\">ban<\/a> on wasteful public relations spending.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, Walters made more than 400 appearances on national TV and radio programs during his time in office, according to a KOKH-TV <a href=\"https:\/\/okcfox.com\/news\/local\/supt-ryan-walters-clocks-over-400-national-appearances-amid-ban-on-wasteful-pr-spending-taxpayer-dollars-state-months-governor-public-relations-investigation-nation-education-agenda-stitt-podcast-television-media-blitz\">report<\/a>. He rarely agreed to interviews with local media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In March, Walters updated his social media profiles to settle an Ethics Commission complaint for using his official account to promote President Donald Trump\u2019s election.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He brought his campaign manager, Texan Matt Langston, onto the payroll from the get-go as the agency\u2019s chief policy advisor, collecting a salary of more than $150,000 per year plus bonuses, though Langston rarely <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/09\/03\/education-department-forced-to-release-key-card-data-for-matt-langston\/\">came into the office<\/a>. Other politicos <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/04\/23\/walters-new-hires-steeped-in-politics-not-education\/\">joined him<\/a> on the payroll this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walters leaves the department ranked 50th among the states in education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tulsa World reported late Tuesday that retired CareerTech administrator Lindel Fields, 54, would be the governor\u2019s selection to replace Walters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=771%2C771&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-700097\" style=\"width:193px;height:193px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=771%2C771&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=336%2C336&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=140%2C140&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=706%2C706&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194-771x771.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Jennifer Palmer has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2016 and covers education. Contact her at <a href=\"tel:4057610093\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(405) 761-0093<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jpalmerOKC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@jpalmerOKC<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:3px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-default wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-1 show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape is-style-default\" style=\"\">\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"751557\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>MORE FROM Jennifer Palmer<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753221\" class=\"tag-brandon-pasley tag-domestic-violence-fatality-review-board tag-jacquelyn-campbell tag-laura-thomas tag-scott-hawkins category-criminaljustice category-domestic-violence type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/24\/domestic-violence-board-chairman-resigns-in-protest\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/24\/domestic-violence-board-chairman-resigns-in-protest\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A decision by the state\u2019s domestic violence board exposed a rift over how a mandatory protective tool is to be used and led chairman and domestic violence advocate Brandon Pasley to resign. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2025-11-24T06:00:00-06:00\">November 24, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"752624\" class=\"tag-charles-rust tag-deaths tag-guns tag-savannah-phillips tag-suicide category-health category-mental-health category-vulnerable-populations type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/07\/isolation-illness-and-guns-why-more-older-oklahomans-are-dying-by-suicide\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Isolation, Illness and Guns: Why More Older Oklahomans Are Dying by Suicide\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/07\/isolation-illness-and-guns-why-more-older-oklahomans-are-dying-by-suicide\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Isolation, Illness and Guns: Why More Older Oklahomans Are Dying by Suicide<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>More older Americans are dying by gun suicide. The rate is particularly high in Oklahoma, and especially in rural counties.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-11-07T06:00:00-06:00\">November 7, 2025<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-11-07T10:33:35-06:00\">November 7, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"752137\" class=\"tag-anthony-sykes tag-cameron-mcellhiney tag-dave-cuillier tag-gary-knight tag-incident-reports tag-lawsuit tag-mark-thomas tag-oklahoma-city tag-police tag-public-records tag-ron-bacy tag-valerie-littlejohn category-democracy category-democracy-democracy category-government category-transparency type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/24\/okc-police-are-withholding-reports-alarming-transparency-advocates\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"OKC Police Are Withholding Reports, Alarming Transparency Advocates\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/24\/okc-police-are-withholding-reports-alarming-transparency-advocates\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">OKC Police Are Withholding Reports, Alarming Transparency Advocates<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>OKC police are withholding police reports unless there was an arrest, charges or a warrant, alarming transparency advocates. The public access counselor sided with police, allowing the practice to continue and, potentially, spread.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2025-10-24T06:00:00-05:00\">October 24, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ryan Walters grabbed headlines throughout his tenure as the state schools chief, racking up dozens of lawsuits over his controversial policies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2622484,"featured_media":736300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gigafact_has_fact_brief":false,"gigafact_remote_fact_brief_post_id":0,"gigafact_remote_sync_timestamp":"","gigafact_remote_sync_status":"","gigafact_remote_sync_response":"","gigafact_has_been_published":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"everlit_article_id":"artl_XPvkGHD3ENQ","everlit_hide_embed":false,"everlit_embed_size":"","everlit_generation_settings":{"primary_voice":"96","guest_voice":"48","default_sonic_optimization":false,"default_conversation_mode":false,"default_read_alt_text":false,"default_read_urls":false,"default_read_author_byline":false,"default_publication":"pblc_lV8RK9ULW4x","intro_mixable":3,"outro_mixable":3,"intro_duration":15,"outro_duration":15,"intro_padding":3,"outro_padding":4,"default_skip_article_image":false,"skip_auto_generation":false,"disable_music":false,"disclaimer":"","disclaimer_voice":"","is_for_subscriber":false,"embed_ui_cover_art":true,"embed_ui_title_intro":"","embed_ui_title_icon":""},"_everlit_article_id":"","_everlit_hide_embed":false,"_everlit_embed_size":"","_everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_content_hash":"2cce46e705a1a9cf768efb4165b49331","_everlit_metadata_hash":"6e5275ebbdfc2fa925db27e994eb784d","_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13],"tags":[88,21309,7372,21283,8282],"series":[],"coauthors":[401],"class_list":["post-751557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-education-2","tag-impact-bible","tag-kevin-stitt","tag-resignation","tag-ryan-walters","entry"],"fact_brief":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters Tenure - Oklahoma Watch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters Tenure - Oklahoma Watch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ryan Walters grabbed headlines throughout his tenure as the state schools chief, racking up dozens of lawsuits over his controversial policies.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Oklahoma Watch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OklahomaWatch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-01T11:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-13T19:50:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/BoardofEducationMeeting_260-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1001\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jennifer Palmer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@jpalmerOKC\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@OklahomaWatch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jennifer Palmer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jennifer Palmer\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/#\/schema\/person\/1f390a2cf6d59c40ea409ca99894fc79\"},\"headline\":\"Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters Tenure\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-01T11:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-13T19:50:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/\"},\"wordCount\":1196,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/BoardofEducationMeeting_260-1.jpg?fit=1500%2C1001&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"Education\",\"Impact bible\",\"Kevin Stitt\",\"Resignation\",\"Ryan Walters\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Education\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/01\/dozens-of-lawsuits-and-hundreds-of-tv-appearances-a-look-back-at-superintendent-walters-tenure\/\",\"name\":\"Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters Tenure - 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