Oklahoma Education Secretary steps in to sub at Santa Fe South Charter School - OKC, OK - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

Oklahoma Education Secretary Ryan Walters pitched in to be a substitute teacher for an 8th grade social studies class. Sante Fe South Middle School is at the northeast corner of I-35 and I-240, south of the Sante Fe South High School.

Article text:

The need for substitute teachers in Oklahoma has gotten so dire amid a spike in coronavirus cases that Oklahoma Education Secretary Ryan Walters is pitching in.

Chris Brewster, the superintendent of Santa Fe South Charter School, said he called Walters first thing Thursday morning.

Walters, who is running for state superintendent, stepped in to substitute teach an eighth-grade social studies class at the school.

"I was flabbergasted, but really pleased that he was a man of his word," said Brewster.

It wasn't much of a stretch for Walters, who spent eight years as a high school history teacher in his hometown at McAlester High School. He was an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist in 2016.

"Turns out he knows a bit about the Constitution and he has a background check," Brewster wrote on Twitter.

Walters has been a vocal proponent of keeping kids in school despite a spike in coronavirus cases in the state.

As part of a series of tweets that drew the backlash from some, Walters said "I call on schools to use all of their available resources and administrative staff to cover classes to ensure all of our students are given an in-person education option. They should fulfill their obligation to educate our kids in Oklahoma."

Among those battling back is the Superintendent of Mid-Del Public Schools, Dr. Rick Cobb, who called the comment “insulting.”

But Brewster believes Walters' post was misunderstood.

"I didn't read it that way. I did read it as a very direct assertion that schools should stay open. I know Secretary Walters a bit and I know that he is a teacher and he values the classroom so it didn't bother me personally," he said.

Putting those values on full display, Brewster shared a video on social media showing Walters filling in. And while he's not sure when or if Walters will be free to sub again, he says the awareness alone was enough to get more classrooms covered.

"Because the example it sets has already helped others to reach out to me and say maybe I could be available too," he said.

Type of publication: Television When was the article reported?: 01/13/2022 Publication: okcfox Article Url: [Web Link] Is Registration Required?: no How widespread was the article reported?: local News Category: Politics

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