OKLA SSPI RYAN WALTERS DECLARES WAR ON TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SUP GIST
Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, is at it again. He's proven time and time again that he's the most dangerous man in Oklahoma, and not just because he's a walking, talking bombastic approach to destroying public education in the state. No, it's because he's also a narcissistic culture warrior spinning lies faster than a tornado in Tornado Alley.
His latest target? Tulsa Public Schools and its leader, Deborah Gist. Walters has declared war on TPS as the opening gambit to his bid to become Governor of Oklahoma. And if there's one thing we know about Walters, it's that he doesn't mess around. He's got a list of guidelines and benchmarks for TPS that would make even the most seasoned educator's head spin.
Re-orienting district finances to serve students? Check. Increasing reading proficiency scores to the state average? Check. Getting TPS schools off the F-List? Check. Improving financial transparency? Check. Holding TPS accountable for its actions? Check, check, and check.
But that's not all. Walters is also calling for new district leadership, saying that the current leadership has "failed the students, the parents, and the teachers." He's even going so far as to say that a new superintendent with a "proven track record of success" is needed to turn TPS around.
The State Board of Education is set to vote on TPS's accreditation status on August 15th, and if TPS loses its accreditation, it'll lose state funding and students will be able to transfer to other school districts. So, needless to say, this is a critical juncture for TPS.
But here's the thing: TPS is facing a lot of challenges right now. Financial problems? Check. Low test scores? Check. High turnover rate among teachers? Check. And in recent months, Walters has criticized TPS for its handling of a number of issues, including a self-reported embezzlement scandal and a school board member who led a prayer at a graduation ceremony.
TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist has defended her record, saying that she's made significant progress in improving the district. She's also said that she's committed to working with Walters to address the challenges facing TPS.
So, what does all of this mean? Well, it means that Walters is certainly making a name for himself as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2026. And it also means that he's not afraid to take on anyone or anything that he perceives as a threat to his agenda.
But let's not forget about Walters' views on education. He's been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's education policies, accusing the administration of trying to indoctrinate students with critical race theory and other leftist ideologies. He's even called for the repeal of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the federal law that governs education policy in the United States.
And here's where things get really interesting: Walters' views on education are in line with those of the Republican Party. The party has been increasingly critical of public education in recent years, arguing that it's failing students and taxpayers. So, it's safe to say that Walters' attacks on TPS and the Biden administration's education policies are likely to appeal to Republican voters.
If Walters does decide to run for governor in 2026, he'll likely face a challenge from incumbent Kevin Stitt. Stitt is a popular governor who has a strong base of support in rural Oklahoma. But Walters' attacks on TPS and his conservative views on education could give him a chance to win the Republican nomination.
In the end, only time will tell what Walters' ultimate goal is. But one thing is for sure: he's not backing down anytime soon. And if you're in his crosshairs, you better watch out.
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist Responds To Walters 'Improvement Plan' https://www.newson6.com/story/64d21fec33a09209cc76524e/tulsa-public-schools-superintendent-deborah-gist-responds-to-walters-improvement-plan
Walters Announces Guidelines For Tulsa Public School District; Calls For New Leadership https://www.newson6.com/story/64d1731813ee03072ad7e8ab/walters-announces-guidelines-for-tulsa-public-schools-this-year-calls-for-new-leadership
Sources: Ryan Walters mulls bid for governor amid attacks on TPS https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2023/08/07/sources-ryan-walters-mulls-bid-for-governor-amid-attacks-on-tps/
Walters breaks down focus of Tulsa Public Schools' accreditation decision | KTUL https://ktul.com/news/local/walters-announces-tulsa-public-schools-accreditation-decision
THE DEFT DIVE
FROM BARD AI
On August 1, 2023, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters laid down a list of guidelines and benchmarks for the Tulsa Public School District (TPS) this upcoming year and called for new district leadership while a vote on the district's accreditation status looms.
Walters' list of guidelines includes:
- * Re-orienting district finances to serve students
- * Increasing reading proficiency scores to the state average
- * Getting TPS schools off the F-List
- * Improving financial transparency
- * Holding TPS accountable for its actions
Walters also called for new district leadership, saying that the current leadership has "failed the students, the parents, and the teachers." He said that a new superintendent with a "proven track record of success" is needed to turn TPS around.
The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote on TPS's accreditation status on August 15, 2023. If TPS is not accredited, it will lose state funding and students will be able to transfer to other school districts.
Walters' announcement comes at a time when TPS is facing a number of challenges. The district has been plagued by financial problems, low test scores, and a high turnover rate among teachers. In recent months, Walters has also criticized TPS for its handling of a number of issues, including a self-reported embezzlement scandal and a school board member who led a prayer at a graduation ceremony.
TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist has defended her record, saying that she has made significant progress in improving the district. She has also said that she is committed to working with Walters to address the challenges facing TPS.
It remains to be seen whether Walters' guidelines and call for new leadership will be enough to turn TPS around. However, it is clear that the district is facing a critical juncture. If TPS is not able to make significant improvements in the coming year, it could lose its accreditation and face even more challenges.
In addition to the guidelines and call for new leadership, Walters also announced that he is creating a new task force to review TPS's finances and operations. The task force will be made up of parents, teachers, business leaders, and other community members. Walters said that the task force will provide him with recommendations on how to improve TPS.
The task force is expected to begin its work in August 2023. Its recommendations will be made public in October 2023.
Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, is reportedly mulling a bid for governor in 2026. Walters has been a vocal critic of the Tulsa Public School District (TPS), and his attacks on the district have raised speculation that he may be positioning himself for a run for governor.
In recent months, Walters has accused TPS of financial mismanagement, low test scores, and a high turnover rate among teachers. He has also criticized the district for its handling of a number of issues, including a self-reported embezzlement scandal and a school board member who led a prayer at a graduation ceremony.
Walters' attacks on TPS have been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised him for speaking out about the district's problems, while others have accused him of politicizing education.
If Walters does decide to run for governor, he will likely face a challenge from incumbent Kevin Stitt. Stitt is a popular governor who has a strong base of support in rural Oklahoma. Walters will need to convince voters in urban areas that he is the best candidate to lead the state.
Walters' attacks on TPS have also raised concerns about his commitment to public education. Some people have accused him of trying to privatize the public school system. Walters has denied these accusations, but his rhetoric has led some to question his motives.
It remains to be seen whether Walters will run for governor in 2026. However, his attacks on TPS have certainly raised his profile and made him a potential contender for the state's highest office.
In addition to his attacks on TPS, Walters has also been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's education policies. He has accused the administration of trying to indoctrinate students with critical race theory and other leftist ideologies. Walters has also called for the repeal of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the federal law that governs education policy in the United States.
Walters' views on education are in line with those of the Republican Party. The party has been increasingly critical of public education in recent years, arguing that it is failing students and taxpayers. Walters' attacks on TPS and the Biden administration's education policies are likely to appeal to Republican voters.
If Walters does decide to run for governor, he will likely face a challenge from Stitt. However, Walters' attacks on TPS and his conservative views on education could give him a chance to win the Republican nomination.
FROM BING AI
Ryan Walters' possible bid for governor amid his attacks on TPS.
According to a news report by The Black Wall Street Times¹, Walters is taking steps to lay potential groundwork for a future gubernatorial campaign, according to multiple sources. The sources also said that Representative Sherrie Conley, who faced public backlash for her controversial statement regarding the Tulsa Race Massacre, is eyeing a bid for State Superintendent.
The news report also said that Walters' political ambitions are behind his targeted and politicized attack on Tulsa Public Schools, which he threatened to dismantle or take over at the August 24th state Board of Education meeting. Walters claimed that TPS had mismanaged its finances, had low reading proficiency scores, and had 25 of the 36 schools on the state's F-List. He also called for new district leadership, saying he had lost confidence in Superintendent Deborah Gist and the TPS Board of Education.
However, Gist and the TPS Board of Education have disputed Walters' claims and criticized his actions, saying they were inaccurate, misleading, and harmful to students, families, and staff. They said that TPS had been transparent and accountable about its spending and financial audits, that it had improved its reading performance and was above the state average for some grades and subgroups, and that it had only 11 schools on the F-List and had made significant progress in improving their academic performance. They also said that they had the trust and support of the TPS community, and that Walters' threats of removing accreditation were politically motivated and violated due process.
Walters has also faced international condemnation for denying that race played a main role in the Tulsa Race Massacre. According to a news report by Claremore Daily Progress², Walters said at a Thursday meeting with Cleveland County Republicans that he would never tell a kid that because of their skin color, they are less of a person or inherently racist. He also said that he rejected the idea that race defines a person, and that he believed in judging the actions of individuals based on their character. However, Walters later told Fox 25³ that his comments were misconstrued, and that he did believe the 1921 destruction of the Greenwood District was motivated by racism.
Bing, 8/8/2023
(1) Sources: Ryan Walters mulls bid for governor amid attacks on TPS. https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2023/08/07/sources-ryan-walters-mulls-bid-for-governor-amid-attacks-on-tps/.
(2) Ryan Walters hits back at critics, says his comments about Tulsa Race .... https://news.yahoo.com/ryan-walters-hits-back-critics-035500453.html.
(3) Ryan Walters says he was misquoted on Tulsa Race Massacre comment. https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-ryan-walters-misquoted-tulsa-race-massacre-question/44478539.
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The Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist's response to Walters' Improvement Plan. A summary of her main points and arguments.
According to a news report by News On 6¹, Gist addressed the media on Monday, August 7, 2023, after Walters announced his guidelines and benchmarks for the district this upcoming year. She also called for new district leadership and threatened to vote on the district's accreditation status in August.
Gist said that she met with Walters in Oklahoma City last week, where they talked for less than 30 minutes about his concerns. She said that she was surprised and disappointed by his actions and statements, which she claimed were inaccurate, misleading, and politically motivated.
Some of the key points that Gist made in her response were:
- - She denied that TPS had mismanaged its finances, as Walters alleged. She said that TPS had been transparent and accountable about its spending and financial audits, which were available to the public. She also said that TPS had reduced its administrative costs and redirected more funds to classrooms and teachers.
- - She challenged Walters' claim that TPS had low reading proficiency scores, which he said were 8% below the state average. She said that TPS had improved its reading performance by 10% in the last three years, and that it was above the state average for some grades and subgroups. She also said that TPS had implemented effective literacy programs and interventions to help students improve their reading skills.
- - She disputed Walters' claim that TPS had 25 of the 36 schools on the state's F-List, which he said were among the worst in the state. She said that TPS had only 11 schools on the F-List, and that it had made significant progress in improving the academic performance of its schools. She also said that TPS had provided comprehensive supports and resources to help these schools improve.
- - She defended her leadership and the TPS Board of Education, which Walters called for replacing. She said that she had the trust and support of the TPS community, including students, families, staff, and partners. She also said that she had a strong track record of leading TPS through challenging times and achieving positive results.
- - She criticized Walters' threats of removing accreditation from TPS, which he said he would vote on in August. She said that this was a harmful and irresponsible move that would jeopardize the future of thousands of students. She also said that this was a violation of due process and a misuse of his authority.
- Gist concluded her response by saying that her focus was on students and teachers ahead of the school year, which begins on August 17th. She said that she was proud of the work that TPS had done and was confident in its ability to continue serving its students.
Bing, 8/8/2023
(1) Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist Responds To Walters 'Improvement Plan'. https://www.newson6.com/story/64d21fec33a09209cc76524e/tulsa-public-schools-superintendent-deborah-gist-responds-to-walters-improvement-plan.
(2) Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist Responds To Walters .... https://www.news9.com/story/64d21fec33a09209cc76524e/tulsa-public-schools-superintendent-deborah-gist-responds-to-walters-improvement-plan.
(3) 'Disappointed': Gist responds to Walters' mismanagement accusations .... https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2023-07-26/disappointed-gist-responds-to-walters-mismanagement-accusations-rhetoric.
(4) Walters announces Tulsa Public Schools' accreditation decision - MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/walters-breaks-down-focus-of-tulsa-public-schools-accreditation-decision/ar-AA1eVu38.
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