Oklahoma Governor Appoints New Education Leaders, Proposes Superintendent Appointment Reform

Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed Lindel Fields as the new Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, filling the vacancy left by Ryan Walters and introducing a "turnaround team" to guide the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). Fields brings over 30 years of experience in Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, and Stitt emphasized the need for alignment between the governor's office and the superintendent to improve educational outcomes. Stitt also proposed changing the superintendent position from an elected to an appointed role, citing that only 12 states elect their superintendents and that such elections have not been linked to better education outcomes. In addition, Nellie Sanders is stepping down as Oklahoma's Secretary of Education to pursue private sector opportunities; she was praised for her work advancing initiatives like the Science of Reading requirements and teacher apprenticeship pathways. University of Oklahoma professor Dan Hamlin will succeed Sanders as Secretary of Education, bringing expertise in education policy to help stabilize and improve the OSDE. Stitt underscored his commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in education as part of his broader vision to elevate Oklahoma’s educational system.