OK governor boots 3 members of state Board of Education citing 'political drama'

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday replaced three of his appointees to the Oklahoma State Board of Education, criticizing the state’s top school board for driving up “needless political drama” rather than academic results.

The board shakeup follows “ongoing controversy at the Oklahoma State Department of Education and disappointing scores on the (biennial) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP),” according to the governors’ announcement.

NAEP scores released last month showed Oklahoma again scored in the bottom 10 of the nation in reading and math and failed to make any significant improvement over the past two years.

“After months of headlines followed by disappointing NAEP scores this month, it’s clear that our education infrastructure has fallen prey to needless political drama,” Stitt said in a statement. “If we want to be the best state for business, we need to make sure our kids have a path to success. It’s time for some fresh eyes and a renewed focus on our top ten goals.”

Oklahoma State Board of Education member Kendra Wesson speaks during a meeting Aug. 24, 2023, at the Oklahoma State Department of Education in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Brent Fuchs/For Oklahoma Voice)

Stitt ousted Donald Burdick, Kendra Wesson and Katie Quebedeaux from the board. He announced he will replace them with Ryan Deatherage, of Kingfisher; Michael Tinney, of Norman; and Chris VanDenhende, of Tulsa.

Wesson declined to comment Tuesday. Burdick did not immediately return a request for comment. Oklahoma Voice has been unable to reach Quebedeaux.

Board members Sarah Lepak and Zach Archer will keep their seats, and one seat on the board is vacant, as it has been since May 2023. The three new appointees will be subject to state Senate confirmation.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who leads the board, fired back at the governor with a strongly worded statement Tuesday afternoon, saying Stitt’s move “undermines Oklahoma kids and parents and an America First agenda.” Every board member has voted in line with Walters without exception since he took office in January 2023.

“Governor Stitt has joined the swampy political establishment that President Trump is fighting against,” Walters said. “The board members that stood with us, working with the Trump Administration to make our schools safer and better, have been fired for political purposes.”

State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks during a meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Jan. 28 while board members Donald Burdick and Katie Quebedeaux listen at the state Department of Education in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

In recent months, the board has approved Walters’ budget requests asking the Legislature for $3 million to spend on Bibles and a slate of new rules that would require schools to check students’ citizenship status, among several other controversial proposals.

Walters, who is Stitt’s former education secretary, and the governor have mostly avoided criticizing each other directly over the past two years. Tuesday’s events mark a significant shift in dynamic between the two Republicans.

“Stitt believes that the federal government, and not the people, need to continue to control our country,” Walters said. “This is disappointing but not surprising. We’ll keep fighting for school choice, parents, kids, and our teachers.”

Stitt appointed Burdick and Wesson in January 2023 and Quebedeaux in March 2023.

Lepak has served on the board since February 2022 and Archer since October 2023. Lepak and Archer were not present for the board’s most recent meeting in January when the remaining members approved Walters’ controversial rule proposals that include citizenship checks in schools.

Deatherage is the 911 director for Kingfisher County. Tinney is an attorney. VanDenhende is the CEO of Mint Turbines.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.