Okla. Gov. calls out school district over firing of 6 teachers

carleyshaffer1November 9, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – JUNE 18: Governor Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) speaks during a roundtable at the State Dining Room of the White House June 18, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:45 AM PT – Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) tore into the city’s public school system over the firing of six teachers for standing against mask mandates.

In a recent video posted to Twitter, Stitt stressed the city’s absurd firing spree comes in the middle of an alarming teachers shortage, leaving parents frustrated with their local schools.

“Earlier this week, the Oklahoma City Public School District had the audacity to fire six talented teachers. They were fired because they wouldn’t follow an illegal mask mandate issued by their superintendent,” said Stitt. “This is preposterous, especially in a time when talented teachers are needed more than ever.”

He added the firings are in violation of state law banning school mandates.

In the middle of a teacher shortage, Oklahoma City Public schools fired six talented teachers because they wouldn’t follow an illegal order.

These are the types of misguided decisions that are leaving many parents across the country so frustrated with their local schools! pic.twitter.com/teAMKXHE9I

— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) November 5, 2021

Just last week, the District Board of Education unanimously ruled to fire the staff members after they stood against the mask mandate set by the district. All six teachers were placed on administrative leave when the mandate originally went into effect back in August. Five of the fired teachers suing the district said wrongful termination would be added to the lawsuit.

Stitt asserted Oklahomans believe in common sense, not “political pandering and bureaucratic overreach.” He ultimately called on Superintendent Sean McDaniel and other districts to hire the talented teachers back. However, officials at the Oklahoma City Public Schools said they would continue to require teachers and students to wear masks with only a few exceptions.