Hand-picked education staffer resigns, citing lack of leadership in Oklahoma State Department of Education
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education is losing a staffer who handles billions of dollars.
She has been on the job for less than half a year and was also chosen by the State Superintendent.
Newschannel 8 spoke with a state lawmaker to get more insight into why a resignation letter was given so soon.
This resignation is quite different.
It’s not someone who works for the Oklahoma State Department of Education and just doesn’t like what State Superintendent Ryan Walters is doing.
It’s someone who does like what he is doing and wants to support him but without essential items, lack of communication, and more.
Pamela Smith-Gordon reached her breaking point.
“The fact that they didn’t even want to talk to her. The grants person at the State Department of Education. That is the most concerning thing that I have seen throughout this whole thing. Because again, hand picked," said Democratic Representative, Jacob Rosecrants.
Pamela Smith-Gordon, who was hand-picked by State Superintendent Ryan Walters, has resigned as the Oklahoma State Department of Education program manager for grant development and compliance.
After only several months, she has given her letter of resignation, which says in part it states this.
“While desperately wanting to support you, the lack of leadership and availability within our own OSDE is impossible to ignore. If your physical presence is not required for leadership, then the question arises as to why the position exists with a salary attached to it," said Former OSDE employee, Pamela Smith-Gordon.
Democratic Representative Jacob Rosecrants says he has been hearing the same things from people behind the scenes.
"We’re hearing from folks that are looking in and they're all saying the same thing. Ryan Walters isn’t there. I talked to someone who is a constituent of mine who said that he is not a mean guy. He is always there with a handshake and a smile, but he is never there, literally. And that was a few months ago," said Representative Rosecrants.
NewsChannel 8 reached out to Ryan Walters' communication team and they sent the following statement:
Superintendent Walters is driving change in education for Oklahoma students like never before and does not have time for those who seek to slow the pace of reform. The message from voters was clear: reform our schools and change the future of Oklahoma. Superintendent Walters has high-performance standards and some people find it difficult to keep up.
Pamela highlighted many words in bold in her resignation letter.
Words like inexperience, political agenda, active leadership, and presence.
“It’s crazy because you will hear Representative McBride talk about this quite a bit," said Representative Rosecrants. "You know he is a Republican. If you were thinking ok the party politics. He can’t seem to get a meeting with him either. Couldn’t even get him into the capital when we had questions for him. And then when he finally did show up CJ. The weirdest thing was, he acted like nothing happened."