Oklahoma Secretary of Education

Last updated
Oklahoma
Secretary of Education
Seal of Oklahoma.svg
Great Seal of Oklahoma
Agency overview
FormedJune 6, 1986
Headquarters655 Research Parkway
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees1,128 (FY2011)
Annual budget$6 billion (FY2011)
Agency executive
Child agencies
Website Office of the Secretary of Education

The Oklahoma Secretary of Education is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The secretary is appointed by the governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary serves as the chief advisor to the governor on public education issues and needs.

Contents

The previous secretary, Ryan Walters, was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt in 2020. Walters was ousted on April 11, 2023 after failing to resign from his position upon taking office as the elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 9, 2023. Governor Stitt appointed Nellie Tayloe Sanders as the new Secretary of Education on January 24, 2024.

History

The position of Secretary of Education was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986.[ citation needed ] The Act directs the Secretary of Education to advise the Governor on public education policy and advise the state public education agencies on new policy as directed by the Governor.[ citation needed ]

Dual position

Oklahoma state law allows for Cabinet secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a state agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Education has not served in any such dual position. [ citation needed ]

Responsibilities

The Secretary of Education oversees the State's public education system. This includes elementary education, secondary education, vocational education and higher education. The Secretary is chiefly responsible for ensuring accountability and performance from the educational system. The Secretary also oversees all libraries in the State and is responsible for ensuring that teachers are appropriately prepared to perform their duties.

As of fiscal year 2011, the Secretary of Education oversees 1,128 full-time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of over $6 billion. Of that budget, only $209 million (or 3%) is spent on operating the various State agencies under the Secretary's supervision. The remaining $5.9 billion is used as payments to local education agencies, such as school districts and universities, to support their activities.

The Oklahoma Legislature has charged the Secretary with several duties and responsibilities: [1]

Agencies overseen

The Secretary of Education oversees the following state entities:

Salary

The annual salary for the position of Secretary of Education set by State law at $65,000. [2] Despite this, if the Secretary serves as the head of State agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries. [ citation needed ]

List of secretaries

#NameTook officeLeft office Governor served underReference(s)
1 Sandy Garrett 19871991 Henry Bellmon
19911995 David Walters
2 Floyd Coppedge 19952003 Frank Keating
Vacant20032011 Brad Henry
3 Phyllis Hudecki January 10, 20112013 Mary Fallin
4Robert Sommers20142015 Mary Fallin
5 Natalie Shirley 20152018 Mary Fallin
6 Dave Lopez January 2018March 2018 Mary Fallin [3] [4]
7Melissa McLawhorn HoustonJune 2018December 2018 Mary Fallin [4]
8 Michael Rogers 20192020 Kevin Stitt [5]
9 Ryan Walters September 10, 2020April 11, 2023 Kevin Stitt [6]
10 Katherine Curry April 11, 2023July 25, 2023 Kevin Stitt [7] [8]
11 Nellie Tayloe Sanders January 24, 2024Present Kevin Stitt [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Section 3-118, Title 70, Oklahoma Statutes - Secretary of Education Duties
  2. ↑ Paragraph 4, Section 10.5, Title 74, Oklahoma Statutes
  3. ↑ Denwalt, Dale (7 January 2018). "Oklahoma Capitol Boxscore: Fallin appoints new education secretary and more". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  4. 1 2 Denwalt, Dale (6 June 2018). "Fallin appoints new secretary for education, workforce". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ↑ Savage, Tres (13 August 2020). "Michael Rogers resigns as Stitt's secretary of education". NonDoc. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Prather, Megan (10 September 2020). "Stitt names Ryan Walters new secretary of education". NonDoc. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Governor Stitt Taps Former College Professor to Serve as Secretary of Education". Governor of Oklahoma . Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "GOVERNOR STITT ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF DR. KATHERINE CURRY AS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, THANKS HER FOR HER SERVICE". Governor of Oklahoma . Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Evans, Murray (January 24, 2024). "Catholic charter school supporter named to governor's Cabinet as education secretary". The Oklahoman . Retrieved 25 January 2024.
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