Representative John Waldron

Hi, I’m John Waldron and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 77th District.


representative

Leadership

Minority Caucus Vice Chair / Secretary

59th Legislature

Assistant Minority Floor Leader

58th Legislature

News & Announcements


Oct 2, 2025

Oklahoma House Democrats respond to changes at State Department of Education

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members and former educators of the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus responded on Thursday to changes announced to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). “Today, Governor Stitt announced drastic changes to OSDE. I want to congratulate Superintendent Lindel Fields, and I look forward to meeting him and working with him on behalf of our students, teachers, and families. I also look forward to meeting and working with Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin. I am hopeful that these appointments will be an improvement to the last State Superintendent, but it is important to remember that the bar has not been set at a high level.  “The challenges our public education system faces have been longstanding before the previous superintendent and seriously need to be addressed by legislative leaders. We must set a higher standard for ourselves to come together to eliminate these challenges that can be solved by working together. Republicans have had the reins on state government in Oklahoma for nearly two decades and they have prioritized tax cuts for the wealthiest and investments in private school vouchers with public tax dollars. This has left public education in Oklahoma underfunded for several years. It is my hope that the new team at OSDE works to listen to teachers and experts on the best ways to improve public education for everyone–students, teachers, and families. I disagree with putting forth legislation to make the Superintendent of Public Education a governor-appointed position. If we want to see the changes needed to our public education system, it should be up to the public to choose, and up to the legislature to listen.”  – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City “Whomever holds the job of State Superintendent must focus on two critical areas: stopping the teacher exodus and realigning the job to its true north–serving our kids, supporting our teachers, and reassuring families that the State Superintendent is there to help Oklahoma become, once again, one of the top states in the nation for student success. “We have everything we need to get this job done. We just need the right person to blaze the path. I wish Mr. Fields every success, and look forward to helping him achieve it.”  – House Assistant Democratic Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa “I’m glad the new superintendent showed respect for teachers and for civility. That’s a needed rebuke of Ryan Walters’ methods. There’s a lot to do. We don’t just have to right the ship, we have to rebuild it, and that will take a greater commitment to public education than we have seen from this administration so far.”  – Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa “While I am cautiously optimistic about Lindel Fields’ appointment today as interim superintendent, there is significant work ahead to address the harm caused by the previous administration while also meeting the challenges facing Oklahoma’s schools. Experience shows that strong public and legislative oversight remain essential. I also want to be clear: I will strongly oppose any effort to turn the superintendent into a governor-appointed position rather than one elected by the people. The Legislature’s past decision to put OSDE appointments into the governor’s hands is part of why we’re in this mess. Checks and balances can’t work when power is consolidated and oversight is removed. Oklahomans must stay engaged: attend school board meetings, communicate with legislators, and demand transparency to ensure this office serves students first, not politics.”  – Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa “My great hope is that once the mess left by Ryan Walters is cleaned up, Mr. Fields and the administration will think outside the box to solve actual problems, instead of doubling down on the failed education policies (over-testing, private school vouchers, profiting, and the vilifying of teachers) that got us here in the first place.”  – Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman -END-



Sep 25, 2025

House Democratic Caucus responds to Walters’ resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Former educators and members of the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus released the following statements after the announcement that the Oklahoma State Superintendent is resigning from his post. “We are facing some of the most difficult challenges in public education in Oklahoma, and as per usual, the State Superintendent continues to keep the attention on him—even as he announces his resignation. We must remember that our 50th in the nation ranking for public education did not happen overnight or by Ryan Walters alone. Republicans have been in charge of state government for nearly two decades prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthiest and corporations and making massive investments in private school vouchers with our public tax dollars. The result has been a lack of investment in public education which has resulted in larger class sizes and low teacher pay. House Democrats made six calls to Republican legislative leaders to hold Ryan Walters accountable to no avail, and now, he is leaving office without answering any questions that Oklahomans have demanded. It is now time for us to get away from the distractions and put our focus on our students, teachers, and families—we have plenty of work to do, and it will take all of us.”  — Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City “Today brings a new beginning and opportunity for Oklahoma schools and our children. We have a lot of work to do to heal the damage of the last several years. That begins with renewed funding, and a sincere plea:  “Teachers, stick with us. Stay. If you’ve left, please come back. We need you, because Oklahoma kids deserve the best.”  — Oklahoma House Democratic Assistant Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa “Superintendent Walters brought chaos and polarization to the state’s largest appropriated agency. Oklahoma Democrats were the first to call for action to rein in his reckless administration of public schools for 700,000 Oklahomans. The GOP did nothing as we fell to 50th in education. We are glad to see his resignation. Good riddance.”  — Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa “While it’s wonderful to wake up knowing the specter of the most incompetent state superintendent in Oklahoma history has vanished, what hasn’t vanished is his agenda. Our opposition was never solely about the superintendent, it’s the incompetence, the lies, the waste of taxpayer dollars, and the rhetoric. The work to protect our public schools, to listen to parents, to support our teachers, to provide transparency of our tax dollars continues, always!”  — Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman “While Walters announced his resignation on Fox News, the Governor’s office has not yet confirmed when or if it will take effect. Like many in my district, I am glad to finally see Walters put students first by resigning as superintendent. Unfortunately, his resignation won't magically fix all the harm he has done. Nor will it erase the failure of the Legislature to hold elected officials accountable and provide oversight of state agencies. His replacement will also be appointed by Governor Stitt, the same person who appointed him Secretary of Education in 2020. Whether you are celebrating his departure or not, this is the time for the people of Oklahoma to stay engaged. I encourage all Oklahomans to continue attending state and local board meetings as well as being in communication with legislators. Oklahoma’s students deserve better, and real change will only come when we demand it together.”   — Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa -END-



Jul 7, 2025

Menz, Pogemiller, Waldron comment on new OSDE mandate for schools to fully fund student meals

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, released the following statements regarding a new mandate from the Oklahoma State Department of Education that requires schools to fully fund student meals. Menz invited the State Superintendent to collaborate with her on her longstanding effort to get free lunches for all public school students. “I was stunned and thrilled when I read about Superintendent Walters' most recent mandate regarding free school lunches,” Menz said. “I have filed and cosponsored legislation, cohosted bipartisan interim studies, published op-eds and held countless meetings all toward the goal of expanding the free lunch program in our schools, and I am glad someone in statewide leadership is finally listening to me. Hungry kids can't learn, and every child deserves access to healthy nutritious meals. I hope that going forward, Mr. Walters will be more collaborative with the legislature, to determine lasting budget solutions to make this program work for our kids.”  Pogemiller said this new mandate is unfunded and comes a week after the deadline for schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision.  “The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows schools to use federal funds to offer no-cost meals to students,” said Pogemiller. “Schools qualify if just 25% of students meet the threshold, making it an efficient way to increase access and improve nutrition for all students. As of the end of 2024, 267 districts and 849 schools in Oklahoma were participating in CEP. Yet the deadline to apply for CEP was June 30—meaning this new potential mandate arrived too late for districts to adjust their plans, and our state won’t have the chance to prioritize this in the budget until next year. Happy to work towards this goal, but the reality is that Walters' approach is an unfunded mandate.” Waldron supports free lunches in schools so long as they don’t negatively impact local districts. “School lunch programs are proven to boost learning, improve test scores and promote healthy bodies,” said Waldron. “House Democrats have worked on this issue for a long time, and we're glad to see OSDE taking this stand. In my district, Tulsa Public Schools already provides free lunches to all. We hope there will be an opportunity to work on this collaboratively, without disruption to local school finances so that every child has a chance to succeed.” -END-