Norman, OK – At the inaugural Oklahoma Charter School Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, Dr. Robert Franklin, the state’s newly elected superintendent, laid out a collaborative vision for Oklahoma’s education system. Franklin said his priority is to bring teachers, parents and tribal leaders together to advance school‑choice, improve literacy and math outcomes, and modernize classrooms with emerging technology.
Putting the “village” back in education
Franklin emphasized that success will not come from a single day’s effort but from daily, consistent action. “It’s not what we do in a day, but what we do daily,” he said, adding that a united community is essential to the task.
He called for “communication without a lot of political fanfare and a lot of unnecessary rhetoric,” urging policymakers to support educators, counselors, and to keep class sizes manageable. Franklin wants data to be used effectively to target specific skill gaps and to share those insights with “moms and dads” so every family is on the same page.
School‑choice and charter support
During his remarks, Franklin made clear his backing of charter schools and broader school‑choice options. “It’s about customization. It’s the customization of learning opportunities,” he explained, positioning choice as a way to meet diverse student needs.
He also signaled an interest in artificial intelligence as a tool for personalized instruction. “We have to look at how we resource teachers to train children and students to use AI actively in the way that they go about learning outcomes, and so we haven’t spent nearly enough time on that,” Franklin said.
Tribal partnerships and the first 90 days
Franklin plans to spend his first 90 days meeting with parents, educators and tribal leaders to set priorities. He praised existing coalitions among tribal leaders, noting that their successful educational support networks can be leveraged to strengthen public education across the state.
“If we can bring what they have been doing effectively to support public education and developing their own educational support networks internally, we can align that work. To me, that gets us further down the road,” he said.
Continuity with the previous administration
Franklin acknowledged the groundwork laid by outgoing Superintendent Lindell Fields, stating he will build on that foundation while advancing his own agenda. He promised to keep the focus on literacy, math proficiency and responsible use of technology.
He will officially assume office in January 2027, but his remarks suggest an immediate, hands‑on approach to policy implementation.
What this means for Oklahoma families
For parents, the superintendent’s plan signals more options for their children’s education, greater transparency in school performance data, and a promise to keep classrooms from becoming overcrowded. Tribal communities can expect continued collaboration with state officials, potentially expanding culturally relevant curricula and resources.
Educators are being asked to embrace new tools, including AI, while also receiving stronger support structures. The emphasis on daily communication and reduced political posturing aims to create a more stable environment for teachers to focus on instruction.
Overall, Franklin’s message is one of partnership and modernization, seeking to align Oklahoma’s education system with the values of family involvement, faith‑based community, and individual liberty that many Oklahomans hold dear.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
