"This is getting ridiculous": Governor Stitt calls out Superintendent Walters, says enough is enough

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Governor Kevin Stitt said on Wednesday he's had enough of the political drama surrounding Superintendent Ryan Walters, especially his proposed rule counting undocumented students.

"I guess it’s when you’re picking on kids, I guess when you’re using them as political pawns, this is getting ridiculous," said Stitt to press on Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, the governor announced his nominations for three new Oklahoma State Board of Education members to replace three current ones.

Stitt's response as to why pointed at failing test scores and "needless political drama." But later Tuesday night at a State Chamber Dinner, he announced another reason why—the potential of counting undocumented students.

"Collecting six, seven, eight-year-old kids' addresses and immigration status in the state of Oklahoma. It's not a public safety issue. Let's go after the bad guys," said Governor Stitt.

For almost two years there has been "drama" popping up within the OSDE building surrounding Superintendent Walters. There have also been thousands of dollars spent through litigation, questions surrounding funding, and other situations.

When we asked the governor for a response in the past to moves made by Walters he chose to stay out of it and said "the people chose him."

This time, he said the line was crossed when the potential came to count undocumented students.

"When you think about the outcomes and you think about where our kids are compared to other states, we're not doing as well as we should. And so we have to get that fixed and we've got to make sure that kids are learning in the classrooms," said Gov. Stitt.

He pointed to failing test scores and the fact that Oklahoma remains at the bottom of many lists that compare the state's education results.

News 4 reached out to a spokesperson for OSDE on Wednesday to ask for a response to the failing test scores as well as the fact that Walters has gone on several national news TV shows, how that could come off as "needless political drama."

The spokesperson sent News 4 a statement in response: "I'm surprised the Governor is willing to pay $450 million towards illegal immigrants in Oklahoma. Not only is the Governor ignoring a mandate from the President Trump, he's going against the will of Oklahomans."

Stitt's three OSBE nominees are Michael Tinney, Ryan Deatherage, and Chris Van Denhende.

Tinney is a metro attorney whose wife is a director for Professional Oklahoma Educators.

Deatherage is a director of Emergency Management for Kingfisher County.

Van Denhende was with the Regional University System of Oklahoma. We reached out on Wednesday to see if he resigned but haven't heard back.

Attorney General Getner Drummond, who tweeted through his Governor candidate page, responded to the whole ordeal by agreeing with Walters essentially.

Governor Stitt responded and said, "These guys are running for their next office. They're playing politics, trying to get their names in the paper. And Oklahomans can see right through it. I think that's why Oklahomans hate politicians so much because do the job you're elected to do. That's what drives me crazy. You run to get your job and then you end up running for the next deal."

Walters also announced a new DOGE type of educational group on Wednesday that contained two of the members being considered to be replaced, Kendra Wesson and Katie Quebedeaux.

The education group will be called Trump Advisory Committee but it's unknown what the group will be doing or if taxpayer dollars will be used to fund it.

The press release just mentioned: “The Trump Advisory Committee is not here to play politics," said Walters.  “We are here to fight on behalf of the hearts, minds, and souls of Oklahoma Students, their families, and our educators. The weak will be exposed. The corrupt will be held accountable. And Oklahoma’s children will finally have access to the educational journey they deserve.” 

Walters and Stitt were listed in a grand jury report released last year, a 31-page report detailing “irresponsible, disappointing and indefensible” oversight in pandemic-era federal education funds.

The three nominees still need to pass through the Senate before being confirmed.