Leadership in education is not about power. It’s about responsibility.
For more than four decades, I’ve carried that responsibility in Oklahoma schools. The responsibility for children’s safety, for teachers’ livelihoods, and for the trust parents place in us every morning when they hand over their children.
My leadership is shaped by three guiding principles: faith, family, and service.
Faith reminds me that leadership requires humility, that every decision carries weight, and that children’s lives are not abstract policy debates. My family keeps me grounded, especially my six grandchildren, who remind me what truly matters. And service has been the defining purpose of my career.
Some of the most defining moments of my life didn’t happen in boardrooms or campaign events. They happened in school hallways and cafeterias – moments of crisis that make you realize, in the deepest way, that educators hold children’s lives in their hands.
Those experiences forged my belief that schools must be places of safety – physically, morally, and academically.
Safety isn’t just locked doors. It’s classrooms free from chaos. It’s curriculum that respects families’ values. It’s an environment where children can focus on learning, not confusion or fear.
Just as important, leadership must honor parents.
Parents don’t want to fight schools. They want to trust them. They want transparency. They want to know what their children are being taught, what books are in their classrooms, and what values guide instruction. That’s not unreasonable – that’s responsible.
In my career, I’ve learned that when parents are treated as partners, schools thrive. When teachers are respected as professionals, students succeed. And when leadership is steady, communities rally around their schools.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s education system has endured years of instability – frequent policy shifts, political distractions, and leadership that prioritizes headlines over classrooms. That approach has weakened trust and divided communities.
We can do better.
We need leadership that is calm, experienced, and focused on results – not rhetoric.
Leadership that understands rural and urban schools alike. Leadership that doesn’t chase controversy but works quietly and consistently to improve outcomes.
I believe Oklahoma’s best days in education are ahead – but only if we return to what works: strong values, strong partnerships, and strong leadership.
That is the responsibility I’m ready to carry.
By Dr. John Cox, Peggs Public School Superintendent and Candidate for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction