New records raise ethical questions about Walters-era spending, gifts and ties to group he now works for
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — New records obtained by News 4 reveal fresh concerns about former State Superintendent Ryan Walters, including a taxpayer-funded bonus to his press secretary who now works with him at an activist group, taxpayer-funded travel to events hosted by that same group, and behind-the-scenes videos of Walters promoting a specific Bible brand he later sought to place in public schools.
News 4 first reported last week that former State Superintendent Ryan Walters paid his press secretary Madison Cercy a $10,000 “performance bonus” with taxpayer dollars during his last week on the job.
In her only two and a half months on the job, Cercy never once responded to one of News 4’s requests for comment.
So when News 4 reported she received that massive bonus for her job perform ance, it raised legal eyebrows.
“You know, large bonuses, terrifically large bonuses for state employees just really doesn’t pass the smell test,” former Assistant Oklahoma Attorney General Tim Gilpin said.
A couple days after News 4's story about Cercy aired last week, the Teacher Freedom Alliance made an update to its website.
As of last Thursday, the website now lists Madison Cercy as the group’s press secretary.
“That is mind boggling. And I think that’s very concerning,” said State Rep. Ellen Pogemiller (D-Oklahoma City).
Pogemiller previously requested the Oklahoma Ethics Commission investigate Walters’ relationship with the Teacher Freedom Alliance.
“Why was that relationship happening?” Pogemiller said. “Was his agenda always to utilize his role as state superintendent to garner a position outside of the state and for his own financial gain?”
Walters paid Cercy the $10,000 bonus sometime between September 22 and 30, when he left office.
Cercy left OSDE in mid-October and went to work with Walters at the Teacher Freedom Alliance less than a month after getting that bonus.
“Someone who has been there two months to receive a $10,000 bonus would be alarming,” Pogemiller said. “Even more so alarming to move with Superintendent Walters to another position makes you question what kind of conversations were happening again before he left office.”
“The fact that they have continued to work together—it’s not illegal,” Gilpin said. “But it certainly raises the question of why she got the large bonus… One wonders if state money has been used appropriately.”
Pogemiller originally requested an ethics investigation in March, after OSDE communications staff published press releases promoting the Teacher Freedom Alliance.
But News 4 found their ties go back even further.
Travel records obtained by News 4 show every travel expense the state paid for Walters’ Chief Policy Advisor Matt Langston while he worked at OSDE.
The records show the state paid for Langston and Walters to travel to at least three different events hosted by the Teacher Freedom Alliance’s parent organization—the Freedom Foundation—in 2023 and 2024.
Walters was the keynote speaker at two of them.
The records also show the Freedom Foundation reimbursed Langston and Walters’ airfare costs.
“State employees can attend conferences and, under strict situation and compliance, some of their expenses can be reimbursed by the conference itself,” Gilpin said. “But that has to be public knowledge, has to be above board. And the amount and the terms and conditions of it have to be beyond suspect.”
“Even if it’s reimbursed, those were taxpayer dollars that were utilized for him to attend events that had nothing to do with, you know, fixing education in our state,” Pogemiller said.
Outside of Walters’ ties to the Teacher Freedom Alliance, News 4 also found something else raising ethical concerns.
In one email was a video.
Country singer Lee Greenwood is seen signing something with a Sharpie. Ryan Walters is heard chatting in the background.
“That was fantastic,” Walters says.
Staff in the background coach Greenwood as he reads a script promoting the use of his “God Bless the USA Bible” in public schools.
“Our nation is at a crossroads,” Greenwood says. “And we have a unique opportunity to teach our children about our founding, and the great documents that founded and built our great nation.”
“And I am proud to partner with my friend Ryan Walters and the state of Oklahoma,” he continues, “in their endeavor to reintroduce to the students there and the biblical influences that made our country great. I hope you join me in supporting Ryan on his mission. God bless you, and God Bless the USA.”
After a few more takes, Walters joins in.
“That was fantastic, Lee. I appreciate that very much,” Walters says. “Folks in Oklahoma will be so excited to see it.”
A second camera angle reveals what Greenwood was signing: a guitar, which he gifted to Walters.
“We are such big fans of yours,” Walters says. “That means the world to me, Lee.”
“This neck here is very well done,” Greenwood replies.
“Oh my goodness,” Walters says.
Records show the videos were filmed no later than November of last year.
About a month earlier, Walters and OSDE issued a request for proposals seeking a supplier the state could buy Bibles from to put in classrooms.
It was supposed to be awarded through the state’s competitive bidding process.
But OSDE originally worded the request in such a way that only one Bible would qualify—Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” Bible.
Now, after seeing the videos, Pogemiller says it seems clear Walters only ever had Greenwood in mind.
“I would not accept gifts like that,” Pogemiller said. “If someone’s going to be influenced by gifts and promises of X, Y and Z, Superintendent Walters is someone I’m concerned with being in that category.”
Looking at all the records News 4 obtained, Pogemiller said the big picture leaves her hoping the Ethics Commission leaves no stone unturned.
“I think to me what it points to is that this relationship goes back farther,” Pogemiller said. “And what does that mean for what we have funded as a state?”
News 4 has reached out to Ryan Walters and the Teacher Freedom Alliance but has not heard back.