Governor Stitt Appoints New Superintendent, Declares Oklahoma Turnaround Team

With the appointment, Gov. Stitt calls on the State Legislature to ship to the poll a State Question to make the State Superintendent an appointed place.

Today, Governor Kevin Stitt announced that he’ll make his first appointment to State Superintendent, asserting Lindel Fields of Tulsa.

“It’s a new day for Oklahoma students,” mentioned Gov. Stitt. “I want us to be top ten in everything we do, and we need a top ten education system to achieve that. Lindel will give the agency a fresh start and get it back to its mission of producing top tier students. I’m excited to appoint my first superintendent of public instruction, and I know great things are ahead.”

Lindel Fields is a veteran educator with over 30 years of expertise in Oklahoma’s ProfessionTech system. He started his profession in 1991 as an educator on the Dick Conner Correctional Center and was rapidly promoted to Director of Instruction, overseeing correctional coaching packages statewide. He later served as Assistant Director at Central Tech earlier than becoming a member of Tri County Technology Center in 1999, the place he grew to become Superintendent & CEO in 2009. Under his management, Tri County Tech earned nationwide recognition for innovation, pupil achievement, and organizational tradition. Fields retired in 2021, having impacted tens of 1000’s of scholars by means of career-focused schooling. He can also be the founding father of Culture Coach, an organization that helps companies and colleges nationwide construct robust cultures to enhance retention, effectivity, and outcomes.

“I am endlessly grateful to Governor Stitt for his trust,” mentioned Fields. “As his first appointed superintendent of public instruction, I look forward to implementing his vision for the education of Oklahoma students. We are going to turn this department around and equip our students with the skills they need to make Oklahoma the best state it can be.”

Governor Stitt has lengthy advocated for depoliticizing the function of superintendent and giving future governors the chance to nominate the function to align with their schooling agendas.  

“In my last seven years, it has been clear that the operation of this agency and the well-being of Oklahoma’s students have taken a back seat to the political ambitions of the individual who holds this position,” mentioned Gov. Stitt. “At best, the agenda of the Governor and the superintendent are out of alignment. At worst, the superintendent has actively campaigned to unseat the Governor. Our students are too precious of a resource to leave to the whims of politicians. Now is the perfect time to consider depoliticizing the Department of Education by allowing future governors to appoint the role of superintendent.”

Governor Stitt can also be proud to announce the OKSDE Turnaround Team, a bunch of excessive caliber Oklahomans with particular expertise in schooling and organizational management to help within the implementation of a brand new future for the Department of Education.

Dan Hamlin
Connie Reilly
Megan Oftedal
Kristin Stephens
Tom Newell
Tara Thompson
Nellie Sanders