Welcome to the Freedom Forge! In this first episode, Paula Mateer from the Steamboat Emerging Leaders Council sits down with Carine Hajjar, an opinion journalist for The Washington Post’s Opinion section, former columnist and Editorial Board member at The Boston Globe, and Steamboat Institute Fellow. They talk about being a conservative at Harvard, going on to a career in journalism, and more!

Host Gabe Woolley, member of The Steamboat Institute's Emerging Leaders Council interviews Oklahoma State Superintendent, Ryan Walters. In a 15 minute excerpt of an hour long discussion, Gabe sits down with Ryan and talks about the major aspects of Oklahoma and American education.

Ryan Walters taught eight years as a high school history teacher in his hometown at McAlester High School (MHS). During his time at MHS, Walters taught Advanced Placement (AP) courses in World History, U.S. History and U.S. Government. He also taught on-level history classes, special education classes and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) named Walters as an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2016. He is passionate about the students of Oklahoma and advocating for their immediate and long-term success.

In September 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt named Walters as Secretary of Public Education. As Secretary of Education, he was responsible for various agencies, boards, and commissions, including the State Board of Education, College and University Boards of Regents or Trustees, Office of Educational Quality and Accountability and the State Board of Career and Technology Education.

Walters taught AP U.S. History at Millwood High School and McAlester High School. He is empowering teachers, parents and community leaders to improve Oklahoma’s education system for all students and previously served as Executive Director of Oklahoma Achieves, an education initiative of the State Chamber of Oklahoma that sought to get the business community more actively engaged in education.

He is a lifelong advocate of improving Oklahoma’s education system and helping every student reach their full potential.

A loving husband to his wife Katie, Walters has four children — Violet (6), Ella (4), Benjamin (2) and newborn Samuel.

To watch the full interview with Ryan and Gabe, go to https://youtu.be/vz4xsA20O6o?si=_AVNnpkp-NHvqtqd

Subscribe to The Steamboat Institute Newsletter: https://www.steamboatinstitute.org/update/sign-up-for-newsletter-updates/