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Oklahoma Watch reports:
The state Education Department is looking to hire someone to manage national media appearances, raising concerns the agency would be boosting Superintendent Ryan Walters’ national profile at taxpayer expense.
A firm is being sought to provide print and digital op-eds to national outlets, coordinate national events and appearances for executive staff, write speeches and handle some communications. Records show the department wants a minimum of three op-eds, two speeches and 10 media bookings per month.
Walters, who is less than one year into a four-year term as superintendent, is already a frequent guest on conservative television and radio programs. And on Wednesday, Walters announced he’s joining Donald Trump’s presidential re-election campaign team, but didn’t provide specifics on how it would affect his role as state superintendent.
Peter Montgomery reports at Right Wing Watch:
In announcing that he is joining Trump’s election bid, Walters gave no specifics about his role in the campaign, but he repeated the far-right rhetoric that has characterized his tenure.
“President Trump will be able to end radical indoctrination in our schools. This woke ideology will be driven out of our schools, the cancer that is the teachers union will be driven out of our schools, and parents will be put in charge of their kids’ education. We will move from teaching kids to hate this country. We will teach kids the basics to understand how to be successful, and to love this country and what makes America great.”
In August, Walters approved far-right PragerU’s climate change-denying, anti-LGBTQ, racist videos for use in Oklahoma public schools.
The FBI is currently investigating Walters’ department for misspending $1.7M in education funds on items such as “kitchen appliances, power tools, furniture, and entertainment.”
Walters has posted a ranting video in which he baselessly claimed that China is secretly funding Tulsa’s public schools. His claim was immediately denounced by Tulsa officials.
In June, Walters appeared here when he announced that Oklahoma’s public schools will soon have a mandatory daily prayer, the mandatory posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and a mandatory high school course in “Western civilization.”
In July, Walters declared that Oklahoma public school students will be taught that the infamous 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was not inspired by racism.
Many expect Walters to run for governor when fellow Christian nationalist Gov. Kevin Stitt is term-limited out of office. He recently headlined at the Family Research Council’s annual far-right “Pray, Vote, Stand” summit.
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters denounces “woke ideology,” promotes conspiracy theories, and uses his position to push the religious right’s political agenda. It seems fitting that he’s joining the Trump campaign. https://t.co/JhlXLGBDet
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) November 3, 2023