The Republican runoff for Oklahoma State Superintendent on August 25th presents Republican voters with two very different candidates. On one side is James Taylor, a classroom teacher and perennial candidate for public office. On the other is Robert Franklin, an educator with 45 years of experience who has served in leadership positions overseeing schools and districts across Oklahoma and is the lone political outsider in the race. The biggest issue in this race is experience—not simply time spent in education, but experience managing educational systems. James Taylor’s service as a classroom teacher deserves respect. Teachers are the backbone of Oklahoma’s education system, and the work they do every day is among the most important jobs in our state. Teaching students, preparing lesson plans, and helping children succeed requires dedication and commitment. However, managing a classroom is fundamentally different from managing an entire school district or the state’s education system. The Oklahoma State Superintendent oversees an agency responsible for serving hundreds of school districts, thousands of employees, billions of taxpayer dollars, and the education of nearly 700,000 students. That job requires executive leadership, administrative experience, budgeting knowledge, personnel management, and the ability to work with school boards, superintendents, legislators, and educators across the state. James Taylor has never served as a superintendent. He has never been responsible for running a school district. He has never managed the operations of an entire school. Those are significant responsibilities that simply cannot be learned overnight. Robert Franklin, by contrast, has spent 45 years in education and has held leadership positions responsible for operating schools and districts. Throughout his career, he has dealt with budgets, personnel decisions, long-term planning, and the countless administrative challenges that come with leading educational institutions. That experience matters. Running Oklahoma’s public education system is one of the largest management jobs in state government. It should not be viewed as an entry-level executive position. Supporters of James Taylor argue that his classroom experience gives him insight into the challenges teachers face. That perspective is valuable. But understanding what happens inside one classroom does not automatically prepare someone to oversee an education system serving every community in Oklahoma. If someone has never managed a school or district, how can voters be confident they are prepared to manage public education for an entire state? Another issue voters should consider is the direction Taylor says he wants to take the State Department of Education. Throughout his campaign, Taylor has supported many of the same education priorities championed by former State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Walters’ tenure became deeply divisive, with many of his proposals generating controversy among educators, parents, lawmakers, and local school leaders. Some initiatives also faced legal challenges, while critics argued that too much attention was devoted to political and cultural debates instead of improving academic outcomes and addressing the everyday needs of Oklahoma classrooms. Even within the Republican Party, Walters became a polarizing figure. Many Republican legislators, local officials, and education leaders publicly disagreed with his approach and questioned whether his priorities reflected what Oklahoma schools needed most. If many Oklahoma voters concluded they wanted a different direction after the Walters administration, why would they choose a candidate who promises to continue many of the same policies? The next State Superintendent should focus on improving student achievement, supporting teachers, strengthening school leadership, and ensuring districts have the resources they need to succeed. The office should be centered on educational excellence—not political controversy. Leadership matters. Administrative experience matters. Proven management ability matters. That is why this race is about much more than campaign promises. It is about whether the person elected has demonstrated the ability to lead a complex statewide organization before taking responsibility for Oklahoma’s public schools. James Taylor has earned respect for his work as a classroom teacher. But teaching in a classroom and leading an entire education system require different skill sets. Oklahoma deserves a superintendent who has already demonstrated the ability to manage schools, oversee large organizations, and navigate the complex challenges facing public education. For those reasons, James Taylor is the wrong choice to lead Oklahoma’s public schools. Caedmon Brooks is a political organizer and civic advocate based in Ralston, Oklahoma known for his work advancing election reform and grassroots engagement in state politics. The post James Taylor if the wrong choice to lead Oklahoma’s Public Schools appeared first on Oklahoma Gazette. ...read more read less