LOCAL
Anna Colletto, Tulsa Flyer
Ryan Walters said he expected a Turning Point USA chapter in every high school in Oklahoma by the end of the year. Photo: Lionel Ramos/KOSU.
State Superintendent of Education Ryan Walters told the Tulsa Flyer Tuesday his office expects a chapter of Turning Point USA in every Oklahoma high school by the “end of the year.”
Walters’ comments come a week after he ordered schools to observe a moment of silence to mourn Charlie Kirk and mark the second time he’s tried to amplify Kirk’s platform in public schools.
Walters said the state is in a “spiritual battle” against “woke indoctrination,” and the Kirk-founded conservative nonprofit organization aligns with his mission to reinstate “American values” — like freedom of speech — in Oklahoma schools.
“I am unapologetic about a partnership with Turning Point USA,” he said. “I’m unapologetic about fighting for Oklahoman and American values.”
Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) spokesperson Madison Cercy said there are currently 18 high school chapters in the state. There were more than 470 Oklahoma public high schools in 2022-23, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Tulsa school board member John Croisant called the move by Walters a “stunt for headlines and a distraction from improving student outcomes,” according to KOSU.
Walters’ office has already launched investigations into 70 teachers for public statements they made about his assassination.
“We’ll be pulling their certificates,” he said. “We will not allow people to teach in the classroom that are out glorifying an assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
Revoking, or “pulling,” a teaching certificate requires a vote by the Oklahoma State Board of Education. The Oklahoman reported a bill passed during this year’s legislative session sets specific reasons for why a license could be pulled including “a willful violation of federal or state law, the abuse or neglect of a child or moral turpitude.”
The board is scheduled to meet Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma schools are not legally mandated to have a TPUSA chapter, but Walters said there will be “tremendous consequences” if a school rejects a student or teacher’s request to establish one.
Walters said his office has been working with TPUSA for over a year to expand its high school program, Club America, across Oklahoma. Since Kirk’s death, Walters said his office has been “inundated” with requests to start new chapters.
Club America has more than 1,200 chapters in the U.S., providing students with activism kits promoting gun rights, pro-Israel policies and free speech, among other issues.
At this point, Walters said, OSDE will not push the establishment of any other political action groups on Oklahoma campuses — like Young Republicans or Democrats, Students Demand Action or Student Advocates for Speech.
Last week, he launched “investigations” into 12 districts for not participating in the noon moment of silence he mandated to mourn Kirk. Some superintendents said the additional moment of silence was “unnecessarily disruptive.”
The investigations into Broken Arrow, Claremore, Edmond Deer Creek, Edmond, Glenpool, Lawton, Moore, Norman, Owasso, Tulsa and Harding Fine Arts Academy are ongoing and Walters’ office has not yet decided what the consequences may be.
Walters also told the Flyer Kirk’s assassination has caused “meaningful reflection” when it comes to his political future.
“It’s changed the country, this evil event — it’s changed me a lot, too,” he said.
Anna Colletto is the education reporter for the Tulsa Flyer. You can reach her at anna@tulsaflyer.org.
