OKLAHOMA CITY — Several recent legal settlements have led to Oklahoma taxpayers covering payouts tied to actions taken while Ryan Walters served as state superintendent, according to court records and reporting by local outlets.
Settlements connected to employee claims
The Oklahoma State Department of Education has reached settlements for at least two former employees alleging their rights were violated under policies or decisions made during Walters’ leadership. Public records and reporting show the two most recent settlements total $132,000.
Among the cases is that of Cheryl McGee, who sued after she spoke at an Edmond Public Schools board meeting in 2023 and was terminated days later. The settlement for McGee exceeds $80,000, according to documents released by the department.
Another settlement involved Matt Colwell, who warned state officials about a teacher sign-on bonus program that later produced overpayments. Some educators were told they would have to return funds, in certain instances amounts reported to be as high as $50,000. Colwell alleged retaliation after he raised concerns; the combined settlement figures for the two employees add to $132,000.
"The First Amendment protects not only your right to speak, but it also protects the right of the public to hear and know," said attorney Mark Hammons, who represented McGee and Colwell.
Background: other related payouts
These payments are part of a broader string of legal actions tied to personnel decisions and public statements made during Walters’ administration. In March, records show the department settled a separate case involving Janessa Bointy for $83,000. Bointy had alleged she was unlawfully terminated after speaking out about student mental health at a school board meeting.
Taken together, the settlements underscore continuing financial exposure for the state related to an era marked by high-profile personnel disputes and controversies over communication and policy. News outlets have covered these cases over multiple years as they moved through internal and legal review.
Legal claims and public interest
The suits hinge largely on claims that First Amendment rights were violated by the department’s actions. Attorneys for plaintiffs contend that state employees and members of the public were punished for speech on matters of public concern — speech that the public has a right to hear, their counsel argues.
From a taxpayer perspective, settlements are typically paid from state funds and represent the financial resolution of litigation without admission of wrongdoing by the agency. Still, the amounts paid can raise questions about administrative practices, personnel policies and the oversight mechanisms that allowed disputes to escalate to litigation.
What this means locally
- Financial impact: State budgets absorb settlement costs, shifting the financial burden to taxpayers rather than individual officials.
- Policy scrutiny: Settlements may prompt reviews of departmental procedures for employee discipline and public communications to reduce future legal risk.
- Public trust: High-profile cases that involve allegations of retaliation or suppression of speech can affect confidence in state institutions that serve schools and students.
Officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Education have posted settlement documents for some cases, though department statements in response to every payout were not included in the reporting reviewed for this article.
Questions that remain
Reporting does not indicate that the department admitted liability in these settlements. The precise internal decision-making that led to each termination or disputed action remains a matter addressed in court filings and negotiation records. Further legal records and any public statements by current department leadership or state lawmakers could clarify whether administrative changes will follow.
The settlements follow extensive local coverage and will likely be part of continuing oversight and discussion in the Legislature and among education stakeholders across the state.
As this story develops, additional documentation from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and court filings may offer more detail on the grounds for each settlement and the measures — if any — adopted to prevent similar disputes in the future.
Aiyana Redcloud is an Oklahoma correspondent for NEXO RADAR, reporting on education, state government and the people affected by policy across the Plains.
