Tulsa Public Schools Supt. Deborah Gist resigns amid dispute with Walters, accreditation

Deborah Gist, superintendent of the Tulsa school district, announced her resignation Tuesday in the midst of a running dispute with State School Superintendent Ryan Walters.

"It's no secret that our state superintendent has had an unrelenting focus on our district and specifically on me," Gist said in an email she sent to district colleagues. She said she was confident her departure would prevent a state takeover of the district.

The Oklahoma Board of Education is scheduled to hold its regular monthly meeting Thursday to consider the district's accreditation. At its meeting in July, the state board agreed with Walter's request to hold a decision on Tulsa while other districts' accreditation was approved.

More: Tulsa Public Schools' accreditation put on hold as Ryan Walters alleges 'severe issues'

"What we have seen is a district that has failed the students," Walters said after the July meeting.

Walters and Gov. Kevin Stitt have been frequent critics of the district's performance.

More: Why is Tulsa on Oklahoma schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ mind?

Stitt criticized the district for closing schools during the COVID-19 panic and Walters picked up the baton to continue targeting the state’s largest school district, a predominately nonwhite school system of more than 33,000 students he says faces “significant and severe issues” and is “plagued by scandal.”

The State Auditor is currently investigating the district for alleged embezzlement.

More: Oklahoma governor asks for audit of Tulsa Public Schools

In a statement released after Gist sent out her email, Walters said: "I am optimistic that this is a step in the right direction. I’ve been crystal clear that Tulsa Public Schools needs a dramatic change in leadership."

"Making the decision to leave Team Tulsa is the hardest decision I have ever done," said Gist, who has been the district's superintendent since 2015. She said the Tulsa School Board would hold a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss her departure and the appointment of Ebony Johnson as her interim successor. Johnson is currently the district's chief learning officer.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tulsa Public Schools Supt. Deborah Gist resigns amid Walters dispute