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Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
| Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $124,373 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $3,861,909,518 |
| Term limits: | 8 years |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Article VI, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ryan Walters | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other Oklahoma Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected executive position in the Oklahoma state government. The superintendent is the chief education officer of the state and is responsible for giving advice and making recommendations to the State Board of Education regarding the public school system and the State Department of Education.
Current officeholder
The current Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction is Ryan Walters (R). Walters assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of the Oklahoma Superintendent is established in Article VI, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
Article VI, Section 1:
| A. The Executive authority of the state shall be vested in a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance and other officers provided by law and this Constitution, each of whom shall keep his office and public records, books and papers at the seat of government, and shall perform such duties as may be designated in this Constitution or prescribed by law.
B. The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the term of the Governor.[1] |
Qualifications
The Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction must be:
- a citizen of the United States
- at least 31 years old
- a qualified elector of Oklahoma for the 10 preceding years
Article VI, Section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction except a citizen of the United States of the age of not less than thirty-one (31) years and who shall have been ten (10) years next preceding his or her election, or appointment, a qualified elector of this state.[2] |
Elections
The Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction is elected in mid-term election years, such as 2018, 2022, and 2026.
On March 14, 2011, the Oklahoma State Senate approved a bill that would give the governor the power to appoint seven of the 11 statewide elected officials, including the superintendent. Voters would have decided whether to approve the measure, but it did not make the ballot.[3]
Term limits
No person may serve as the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction for more than eight years, excluding years served for less than a full term to fill a vacancy in the office.[4]
2022
General election
General election for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ryan Walters defeated Jena Nelson in the general election for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ryan Walters (R) | 56.8 | 650,310 |
 | Jena Nelson (D) | 43.2 | 495,031 | |
| Total votes: 1,145,341 | |||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ryan Walters defeated April Grace in the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ryan Walters | 53.4 | 149,147 |
 | April Grace | 46.6 | 130,168 | |
| Total votes: 279,315 | |||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jena Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ryan Walters and April Grace advanced to a runoff. They defeated John Cox and William Crozier in the Republican primary for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ryan Walters | 41.5 | 142,630 |
| ✔ | | April Grace | 30.6 | 105,372 |
 | John Cox | 24.1 | 83,065 | |
| William Crozier | 3.8 | 12,950 | ||
| Total votes: 344,017 | |||
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Past elections
Vacancies
Under Article 6, Section 13 of the state Constitution, in the event of a vacancy in the office the governor appoints a person to serve until a successor is either elected or appointed and qualified by law.[5]
Duties
Under Oklahoma statutes, the superintendent of public instruction "shall have the control of and direct the State Department of Education." State law says the superintendent shall do the following:[6]
| “ |
Give advice and make recommendations to the State Board of Education on all matters pertaining to the policies and administration of the public school system; 2. Adopt policies and make rules for the organization, operation and administration of the State Department of Education; 3. Organize and have control of the administration of the State Department of Education and any other supervisory agencies, divisions, personnel and their appointment and salaries and other operations necessary to carry out the powers, duties and functions of the State Superintendent and the State Board of Education; 4. Have authority to require the coordination of all divisions of the State Department of Education and have general supervision of all employees of the Department; 5. Present all recommendations of the Department to the State Board and require employees of the Department to present specific matters directly to the State Board; and 6. Be responsible for interpretation of policy and rules set by the State Board.[7] |
” |
The superintendent serves on the following boards and commissions, among others:[8]
- State Board of Education, Chair
- State Board of Career and Technology Education, Chair
- Regional University System of Oklahoma, Regent
- Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
- Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness/Smart Start Oklahoma
State budget
- See also: Oklahoma state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Education in fiscal year 2025 was $3,861,909,518.[9]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: Title 74, Chapter 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes
Title 74, Chapter 10, Section 250.4 (§74‑250.4) of the Oklahoma Statutes set the superintendent's annual salary at $124,373 as of January 2021.[10] The amount of compensation is prescribed by law, pursuant to Article VI, Section 34 of the Oklahoma Constitution:
| Each of the officers in this article named shall, at stated times, during his continuance in office, receive for his services a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected; nor shall he receive to his use, any fees, cost, or perquisites of office or other compensation.[11] |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2021
In 2021, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2020
In 2020, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2019
In 2019, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2018
In 2018, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2017
In 2017, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2016
In 2016, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2015
In 2015, the superintendent received a salary of $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2014
In 2014, the superintendent was paid an estimated $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2013
In 2013, the superintendent was paid an estimated $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[22]
2010
In 2010, the superintendent was paid an estimated $124,373, according to the Council of State Governments.[23]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Oliver Hodge Building
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone: 405-521-3301
See also
| Oklahoma | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 1 - Executive officers enumerated - Offices and records - Duties," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 3 - Eligibility to certain state offices," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ KFOR, "Okla voters could decide to expand governor's power to appoint current elected officials," March 14, 2011
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution - Section Article 6 section 4 - Terms of office - Succession," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 13 - Officers' commissions - Vacancies," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "2019 Oklahoma Statutes, Title 70. Schools, §70-3-107.1. State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Powers and duties," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedoffice - ↑ Oklahoma House of Representatives, "Appropriations and Budget Subcommittees," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes, §74-250.4," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Court Networks, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 34 - Compensation of officers," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ ISSUU, "The Book of the States | 2020 | Volume 52," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 4, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011
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