Ryan Walters is set to head the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a new national organization providing educators with professional support services and resources, days after resigning from his position as Oklahoma State Superintendent.
Walters, who has served in the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2023, announced his resignation on Wednesday.
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As part of his new role as Chief Executive Officer of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, founded by the Freedom Foundation nonprofit, the TFA says Walters will provide services and resources to educators as an “alternative to traditional union membership.”
In a news release sent to Griffin Media by TFA on Thursday, the organization says Walters will start the new position on Oct. 1.
“Walters, who has implemented significant education policy reforms in Oklahoma, will lead the Teacher Freedom Alliance’s mission to restore excellence in America’s classrooms,” the release said.
In the release, Walters says he intends to fight teachers’ unions and give “real freedom” back to educators.
“For decades, union bosses have poisoned our schools with politics and propaganda while abandoning parents, students, and good teachers,” Walters said. “That ends today. We’re going to expose them, fight them, and take back our classrooms.”
Walters also said the Teacher Freedom Alliance will give teachers “freedom.”
“At the Teacher Freedom Alliance, we’re giving educators real freedom, freedom from the liberal, woke agenda that has corrupted public education,” Walters said. “We will arm teachers with the tools, support, and freedom they need, without forcing them to give up their values. This is a battle for the future of our kids, and we will not lose.”
Freedom Foundation leaders also say they are excited to have Walters in the new position, saying the former State Superintendent will work to remove the influence of teachers’ unions from American classrooms.
“We’re honored to have Ryan Walters as the next CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance,” Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe said. “Ryan is a proven freedom fighter who understands that America cannot restore its education system without breaking free from the grip of teachers’ unions.”
What is the Teacher Freedom Alliance?
According to the news release obtained by Griffin Media, the Teacher Freedom Alliance says it provides educators with liability insurance, professional development opportunities, continuing education credit hours, and access to alternative curricula.
TFA says this comes at no cost to teachers who choose to leave their unions.
What is the Freedom Foundation?
The release says the Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “fighting government overreach, defending workers’ rights, and protecting constitutional freedoms.”
The organization, founded in 1991, operates through legislative advocacy, strategic litigation, and public education initiatives.
