For more than 40 years, I’ve walked the hallways of Oklahoma schools – not as a politician, but as a teacher, coach, counselor, and superintendent. I’ve taught math and computer science. I’ve coached athletes. I’ve sat across from families in moments of joy and moments of heartbreak. For the last 32 years, I’ve served as superintendent of a rural Oklahoma school, wearing every hat required to keep a district running.
I’m running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction because Oklahoma’s education system doesn’t need more slogans or political theater. It needs steady conservative leadership – grounded in experience, values, and a deep respect for parents, teachers, and students.
I’ve watched education policy swing wildly with every election cycle. New mandates arrive. Old initiatives disappear. Teachers are told to adjust – again. Parents are left wondering what changed this time and why. And students are the ones who pay the price.
That kind of instability erodes trust.
In my district, we do things differently. I know every family. I know every teacher. And when I have questions about teaching second grade, I ask my second-grade teacher. When parents raise concerns, we don’t shut them out – we bring them in. That’s not politics. That’s leadership.
Education should be built on three simple truths:
- Children must feel safe before they can learn.
- Teachers are professionals who deserve trust and respect.
- Parents are partners – not obstacles – in their children’s education.
These principles aren’t ideological. They’re common sense. And they work.
I’ve seen what happens when schools focus on fundamentals – reading, math, and preparation for real life. I’ve seen students who struggled early gain confidence when teachers had the freedom and tools to adjust instruction in real time. I’ve seen parents re-engage when transparency replaces confusion.
I’m also a husband, a father, and a papa to six grandchildren. When I think about their future – and the future of the 700,000 Oklahoma children just like them – I know we can’t afford to keep experimenting with their education.
This campaign isn’t about ambition. It’s about responsibility.
Oklahoma deserves a State Superintendent who understands classrooms because he’s spent a lifetime in them. Who leads with humility, not ego. Who believes that steady leadership – not chaos – is how we restore trust and move our schools forward.
That’s why I’m running.
I invite you to join me in Making Education Great Again!
By Dr. John Cox, Peggs Public School Superintendent and Candidate for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction