Oklahoma schools boss Ryan Walters, who called for Trump Bibles in classrooms, resigns

WASHINGTON — Oklahoma’s state schools superintendent Ryan Walters, who has advocated for Trump-branded Bibles in the classroom, is stepping down to helm a conservative advocacy group.

Walters, 40, who became the Sooner State’s superintendent of public instruction in January 2023, is taking over as CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a group that works to offer educators alternatives to unionization.

“We’re going to destroy the teachers unions,” Walters declared in an interview on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” Wednesday night. “We have seen the teachers unions use money and power to corrupt our schools, to undermine our schools.”

The former high school history teacher drew national attention last year for his crusade to mandate religious instruction in public schools.

In June 2024, Walters instructed all Sooner State public schools to teach the Bible, particularly the Ten Commandments. Earlier this year, a bill re-circulated in the state legislature that would have required all public schools in Oklahoma to display the Ten Commandments.

Many of the larger school districts in the state ignored Walters’ directive.

Earlier this year, the superintendent also requested that the state spend $3 million on “Trump Bibles” — Scripture books bearing the president’s endorsement and including copies of the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and the chorus of “God Bless The USA” by Lee Greenwood– for classrooms.

Lawmakers rejected Walters’ request.

Walters stumbled into controversy over the summer after state Board of Education members claimed they saw images of naked women on the television screen in his office during a meeting

The fiery education boss denied those allegations as “categorically false” and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office declined to press charges after an investigation.

In one of his final acts as superintendent, Walters unveiled plans to establish Turning Point USA chapters in every high school across Oklahoma.

The grassroots conservative organization is still reeling from the Sept. 10 assassination of its co-founder, Charlie Kirk, during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.

Throughout his tenure, Walters had a rocky relationship with Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, despite previously serving as state education secretary.

The two have repeatedly butted heads, including over Walters’ push to require schools to ask for proof of citizenship while enrolling new students.

“I’ve got a lot of folks that really want me to jump in, and so, I’ve told them I’m focused on this session. I’m focused on the school year. We want to continue to see our schools be as good as possible, and, you know, we’ll have conversations this summer around that,” Walters told KOCO 5 in May.

Teacher Freedom Alliance praised Walters after he made the announcement public.

“Ryan Walters fearlessly fights the woke liberal union mob,” the group exulted. “TFA will take the fight straight to the unions and we will not stop. Together, we will build a national movement that is centered on freedom and common sense, not on bullying and intimidation.”