Rob Miller (Oklahoma)
From Ballotpedia
Rob Miller (Republican Party) is running for election for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Miller completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2026
See also: Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jennettie Marshall, John Cox, Ana Landsaw, Rob Miller, and Jerry Griffin are running in the general election for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Jennettie Marshall (D) | ||
 | John Cox (R) | |
| Ana Landsaw (R) | ||
 | Rob Miller (R)  | |
| Jerry Griffin (Independent) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Riley Williams (R)
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rob Miller completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Miller's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Rob Miller—a Marine Corps veteran, lifelong educator, and recently retired superintendent of Bixby Public Schools. For more than three decades I’ve served Oklahoma students as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, leading with a simple promise: students first, politics last. In Bixby, we expanded high-quality learning opportunities, opened modern classrooms and innovation spaces, strengthened career-ready pathways, and built trusted partnerships with parents, teachers, and community leaders, all while being transparent with taxpayer dollars.
I’m running for State Superintendent to restore competence and trust to the agency that serves nearly 700,000 Oklahoma students. That means on-time funds to districts, clear and consistent guidance, lawful and accountable governance, and respectful, honest communication. We’ll support great teaching, ensure safe and welcoming schools, and unite rural and urban communities around what works for kids. I’ve led teams through growth and change; now I’m ready to lead our state education system with steadiness, integrity, and results.
- Students First, Not Politics
Focus every decision on learning, safety, and well-being, not headlines.
Protect instructional time, strengthen early literacy & math, and expand college/career pathways statewide.
Put kids at the center and keep politics out of the classroom. - Competence Over Chaos Run the State Department like a professional service agency: on-time funds, clear guidance, and lawful, transparent governance. 100-Day plan: restore predictable calendars, publish funding & compliance dashboards, and fix customer service. Do the basics brilliantly - fund districts on time, communicate clearly, follow the law, stop the surprise mandates.
- Respect & Partnership Listen to parents, empower educators, and unite rural and urban communities around what works. Recruit & retain great teachers, cut red tape, support safe, welcoming schools for every child. Respect people, build trust, deliver results - together.
Early literacy & core achievement; Teacher pipeline, pay, and respect; Safe, supportive schools & student wellness; Career and college pathways (CTE, dual credit, apprenticeships); Transparent, lawful governance & responsible budgeting; Parent partnership & honest communication; Rural–urban equity and modern facilities; Smarter testing - less time on high-stakes drills, more useful feedback and growth measures.
The State Superintendent is Oklahoma’s top public-education official, elected by voters statewide. They run the State Department of Education and, with the State Board, set the rules schools follow. They make sure districts meet standards, teachers are properly certified, and student results are reported honestly. They are also in charge of sending out and tracking billions in state and federal school dollars - making sure the money goes out on time and is spent legally. When there are disputes (like a district’s accreditation or a teacher’s license), the office acts as a fair referee and follows due-process rules. It also ensures schools follow civil-rights and special-education laws. Because education touches every community and child, this office uniquely combines policy, funding, and enforcement power, and its decisions have a huge impact on student learning, district stability, and Oklahoma’s workforce and future.
I look up to my dad and to Marine Colonel James Sachtleben, my commanding officer from 1986–1989. They taught me the same core virtues: hard work, integrity, self-discipline, and honor. My dad modeled humility and doing the right thing when no one is watching. Col. Sachtleben demanded mission focus, accountability, and taking care of your team. Their example guides me today: tell the truth, keep your word, do the basics brilliantly, and lead with service -always putting people first.
I believe the job is stewardship, not celebrity. Most important: integrity and truth; fidelity to the law and Constitution; competence and reliability - do the basics brilliantly (on-time funds, clear guidance); accountability and transparency - publish data, explain decisions, admit mistakes; respect and civility - listen first, empower educators and parents; nonpartisanship and independence - put students over politics; fiscal responsibility - treat public dollars as sacred; equity and fairness for every community; data-driven results -evidence over ideology; courage and humility - make tough calls, course-correct when wrong.
I believe the State Superintendent’s core duty is stewardship and service: uphold the Constitution and law and run OSDE as a professional support agency that delivers on-time funds, predictable calendars, and clear guidance. Set and sustain high academic standards, support great teaching, and lead a smarter, lighter testing system that provides timely feedback and measures growth. Recruit, develop, and retain excellent educators while cutting red tape. Ensure safe, welcoming schools with strong special education, counseling, and evidence-based interventions, and expand college- and career-ready pathways (CTE, dual credit, apprenticeships). Communicate transparently, publish clear data, own and fix mistakes, and work respectfully with families, the State Board, legislators, tribes, and communities - always putting students over politics.
I want to leave a legacy of steadiness, service, and results: an education system where Oklahoma’s kids read on grade level, feel safe and known, and graduate with real choices - college, career, or military. I want OSDE remembered as a competent, law-abiding service agency that paid districts on time, reduced test clutter, communicated honestly, and respected educators and parents. Most of all, I hope people say we put students first, politics last - and rebuilt trust by doing the basics brilliantly, day after day.
Apollo 11, July 20, 1969. I was eight years old. Watching Neil Armstrong step onto the moon showed me what clear goals, science, and teamwork can achieve - and for a moment it united the country. It sparked a generation of innovation and reminded me that when we invest in learning and work together, we can turn the “impossible” into everyday reality.
I was a dishwasher at the Four Coin Family Restaurant in Sand Springs, OK at the age of 14. Starting as a dishwasher taught me that leadership begins with service. In a hot, fast kitchen you learn to show up on time, work until the job is done, care about cleanliness and details, support the team, and take pride in essential work most people never see.
Drive by Daniel Pink is my favorite because it captures what I’ve seen in classrooms and teams my whole career: people do their best work when they have autonomy, mastery, and purpose. It’s a research-grounded case against pure carrots-and-sticks and for trusting professionals. As a leader, it’s shaped how I empower teachers - clear goals, high-quality materials, coaching, and room to innovate. It also informs my policy views: less test-driven compliance and more meaningful feedback and growth. From the Marines to the superintendent’s office, the lesson is the same -when we respect people’s judgment and give them a mission worth serving, they exceed expectations.
I’ve always wrestled with patience. After major back surgery a few years ago, going from marathoner to measuring progress in five-minute walks was humbling. I had to ask for help, focus on small daily wins, and stick with the plan even when no one was watching. That experience changed how I lead: show up, do the basics brilliantly, communicate honestly, and trust the team. It’s why I’m committed to steady, competent service at the State Department of Education - less drama, more follow-through for Oklahoma’s kids.
The most important responsibilities are, first, to uphold the law and run the State Department of Education like a reliable service agency - predictable calendars, clear guidance, and on-time, accurate funding to every district. Second, to support great teaching and safe, welcoming schools by providing high-quality standards, materials, and practical help. Third, to lead smarter assessment and accountability- fewer, better tests that give timely feedback and measure growth without hijacking instruction. Fourth, to practice rigorous fiscal stewardship and public transparency so taxpayers know where every dollar goes. Finally, to communicate honestly, honor due process, and work respectfully with families, the State Board, legislators, tribes, and educators - always putting students over politics.
Yes, experience in government can help, because this job sits at the intersection of law, finance, and policy. Understanding budgets, rulemaking, and how the Legislature works makes you more effective. But politics should never substitute for real school leadership. The non-negotiable is proven experience running schools.
I believe the office should be required to hold a valid administrative certification (principal or superintendent) and have significant experience as a school administrator. That preparation ensures knowledge of school law, special education, finance, HR, and accountability - and firsthand responsibility for students, staff, and families. In short: government experience is useful; administrative certification and real district/school leadership should be mandatory, so the job is done with competence, legality, and a student-first focus.
I believe the office should be required to hold a valid administrative certification (principal or superintendent) and have significant experience as a school administrator. That preparation ensures knowledge of school law, special education, finance, HR, and accountability - and firsthand responsibility for students, staff, and families. In short: government experience is useful; administrative certification and real district/school leadership should be mandatory, so the job is done with competence, legality, and a student-first focus.
I believe the State Superintendent needs a blend of executive and instructional expertise: the ability to run OSDE like a reliable service agency (on-time funds, clear guidance, strong project management); deep knowledge of school law and governance (due process, Title IX/VI, IDEA, open meetings/records); sound finance and grants management; and real instructional leadership in literacy, math, special education, and MTSS. Add smart assessment know-how, strong HR/talent skills, data transparency, and calm crisis communication with families, educators, tribes, and legislators. Most importantly, holders should have administrative certification and proven school/district leadership experience.
Democracy works best when everyone participates. I support nonpartisan steps that make voting easier and secure - modernized registration, clear information, convenient voting options, and strong civics education, so every eligible voter can be heard, and leaders stay accountable.
Finalist for National Principal of the Year in 2014. Jenks District Teacher of the Year in 2000.
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Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction |
Personal |
Footnotes
