Oklahoma’s new State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lindel Fields, shared a detailed roadmap for his 15-month tenure, emphasizing communication, collaboration, and stability as the foundation of his leadership during his first press conference after being sworn in.

Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Fields to replace Ryan Walters last week.

He spoke candidly about his vision, priorities, and the rapid timeline he faces to restore trust within the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).

“Every child deserves the gift of literacy at a young age,” Fields said, saying literacy, teacher recruitment and retention, and career readiness for graduates are his top three priorities.

Three Phases of Action

Fields outlined a three-phase plan to guide his work through early 2026:

Focus on co

See Full Page