Ryan Walters calls Oklahoma teacher unions a 'terrorist organization' in Capitol hearing

In front of an overflow crowd, Oklahoma's top education official called teacher unions "terrorist organizations" and blamed his predecessor for leaving his agency a "dumpster fire" while answering pointed questions from lawmakers for over two hours Monday at the Capitol.

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters' most incendiary comments prompted groans from Democrats before the meeting came to an abrupt end. The House Appropriations and Budget Committee had invited Walters for an update on education issues.

The committee's vice chairperson, Rep. Ryan Martinez, gaveled for adjournment amid vocal objections from the minority party to Walters' comments.

Despite scoffs from Democrats and scrutiny from some Republicans, Walters was unapologetic in his controversial rhetoric. Teacher unions have been a frequent target of Walters', and he took his complaints up a notch when speaking to the House committee.

“I don’t negotiate with folks who would sabotage our kids," Walters said. "That’s a terrorist organization in my book.”

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He accused teacher unions of demanding extra government funds in exchange for their cooperation with reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state's largest teacher union, the Oklahoma Education Association, called the remarks "disgusting" and "unprofessional." Some school districts offered hazard pay or other incentives to staff "for going above and beyond" during the pandemic, but there was no such statewide initiative, the organization said.

"In less radical times, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction calling the educators who serve in our public school classrooms 'terrorists' would be shocking," OEA said in a statement. "However, this inflammatory and demonizing rhetoric continues to escalate in ways that endanger our educators and undermine public education.

"Public school educators are not getting rich off of this job. They keep their hearts and classrooms open to every single child across Oklahoma because they love their students. Comparing them to people who blow up buildings is disgusting, especially when every educator puts their life on the line to protect students as school shootings continue to rise."

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What Oklahoma lawmakers asked Ryan Walters about the education system

Questions from both sides of the aisle indicated doubt among House lawmakers about Walters' leadership of Oklahoma's education system.

Leading up to the meeting, Rep. Mark McBride said legislators had more than a dozen questions for Walters, ranging from the superintendent's allegations of inappropriate content in school libraries to details of his new teacher signing bonus plan.

"Personally, I don't know that we moved the needle any," McBride, R-Moore, said afterward. "I just want to see the facts. I want to see proof. I want to be supportive of (Walters) because if he succeeds, we all succeed."

Turning over records lawmakers requested, McBride said, would build confidence and communication between the House and Walters' administration.

The budget committee asked the superintendent to produce by May 8 a list of the federal grants the Oklahoma State Department of Education maintains. Martinez, R-Edmond, asked for details of the grants' statuses and the department's plan for future applications.

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Lawmakers were particularly concerned with whether the agency would meet deadlines to apply for federal grants this month.

The state Education Department, which recently lost its lead grant writer, manages about $100 million in competitive grants from the federal government and over $900 million in total federal funding.

"If we do not receive specific grants, if we do not apply for a certain grant or if those monies are not disbursed, guess who’s trying to find the money to make sure those programs don’t go away," Martinez said. "It’s the people on this committee.”

Walters assured lawmakers the Education Department continues to pursue federal grant programs.

He said he's in the midst of reorganizing the agency because the previous state superintendent, Joy Hofmeister, left the department a "disaster." He claimed Hofmeister's senior-level staff had too little oversight of department spending.

"I’m going to be real direct," Walters told lawmakers. "It was an absolute dumpster fire when we got to this agency."

Hofmeister declined to comment on Walters' remarks.

Lawmakers had been attempting to schedule a hearing for a month

For a month, House lawmakers sought a public hearing with the new state superintendent, who took office in January.

McBride initially asked Walters to appear March 30 before the House education budget subcommittee, which the Moore Republican leads. Walters didn’t appear.

Speaker Charles McCall said he reached out personally and Walters declined a second time to meet with a House panel. McCall, R-Atoka, said he made it clear he would legally compel the superintendent to appear, if arm-twisting became necessary.

“I did tell him I will compel him,” McCall said at a press briefing last week. “I don’t think that’s a good look (to be compelled).”

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Walters then agreed to attend voluntarily and suggested a date and time, McCall said.

Two Democrats ended the meeting in a heated exchange with the superintendent.

Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, referred to Walters' rhetoric as "flame throwing" and "racist-tinged." Democrats took particular offense to his allegation that their party spread lies about him and objected to his claims of indoctrination in public schools.

"I just shared with him that I am a Democrat and a Christian, that his prayers don't reach God's ears faster than mine," Goodwin said. "There's no way we're going to advance any cause if he's going to continue to diminish and attack in a way that is despicable."

Editor's note: A quote from Rep. Regina Goodwin has been amended to clarify the lawmaker's meaning.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nuria’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Superintendent Ryan Walters calls teacher unions 'terrorist organizations'