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So far, five candidates are running to lead Oklahoma’s public education system as state superintendent in 2026.

Former Tulsa school board members Jennettie Marshall, a Democrat, and Jerry Griffin, an independent, filed paperwork with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission this month.

John Cox is running again as a Republican. He campaigned as a Democrat in 2014 and 2018, and as a Republican in 2022.

Republican Rob Miller, who recently retired as superintendent of Bixby Public Schools, was the first to enter the race, in February.

Ana Landsaw, a Republican from Tahlequah, also filed to run. Read more about the candidates in this story by Oklahoma Voice.

Readers: last week’s newsletter contained an error. The Legislature did approve a requirement that prospective teachers pass a test based on the U.S. Naturalization exam. They rejected applying the requirement to teachers renewing their certification but approved it for new teachers. The online version has been corrected.

Questions, comments, story ideas? Please reach out via email.

— Jennifer Palmer

Recommended Reading

  • The Oklahoma State Department of Education likely would contradict state law if it implements an ideological test for teachers coming from certain states, said the leader of another state agency that oversees teacher assessments. [Oklahoma Voice]
  • Rigorous research rarely shows that any teaching approach produces large and consistent benefits for students. But tutoring seemed to be a rare exception. [The Hechinger Report]
  • A shooter opened fire with a rifle Wednesday through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis and struck children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 people in an act of violence the police chief called absolutely incomprehensible. [AP]

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