OKLAHOMA CITY – The superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools and Governor Stitt’s Secretary of Public Education are in a runoff to succeed Joy Hofmeister as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In the statewide Republican primary Tuesday, Stitt appointee Ryan Walters received 41.46% of the 343,791 votes cast in that race, while April Grace received 30.63% of the votes. They will meet again Aug. 23 in a runoff election.
Two other Republican candidates, both of whom have sought the school superintendent’s post before, lost again.
John Cox, 58, of Locust Grove, previously ran for this post twice as a Democrat, but was defeated by Hofmeister on both occasions, so he switched parties this time. Cox is a lifelong educator with 36 years of experience working as a math teacher, coach, and administrator in Oklahoma public schools, including 28 years as the superintendent at Peggs school district in rural Cherokee County.
William E. Crozier, 75, of Union City, previously ran for State Superintendent in 2006, losing to then-incumbent Sandy Garrett.
Walters, 36, of Edmond, contends Oklahoma schools are being destroyed by “the far left.” He claims concepts such as critical race theory and transgenderism are “being forced on public schools,” but has offered few details. Walters has been critical of what he calls “woke” school administrators. He believes Oklahomans should have school choice, and claims “the far left has lowered the standards” of public schools.
Stitt appointed Walters state Secretary of Public Education last year.
Grace, 56, of Norman, superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools, was the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators’ Superintendent of the Year for 2021.
She said she would make increasing educational outcomes a priority. Oklahoma already has rigorous academic standards and now needs to match that with higher performance, she said.
Cox proposed spending $90 million to increase security at public schools, including armed guards and bulletproof glass. He also believes schools should move “all the social issues out of the schools.”
Crozier recommends that schools should expand their foreign language classes.
The winner of the GOP runoff will face Democratic candidate Jena Nelson, 44, of Edmond, in the Nov. 8 general election.