Franklin and Taylor Clash Over Education Vision in Oklahoma Superintendent Runoff Debate

The race for Oklahoma’s next state superintendent is heating up. Robert Franklin and James Taylor squared off Thursday night at Cameron University in the GOP runoff debate, laying out sharply different visions for the state’s schools. Franklin, a former educator who entered the race late, focused on boosting teacher support and training programs. Taylor, a teacher and pastor making his first statewide run, emphasized giving parents and taxpayers more control over classrooms. The debate stayed mostly civil, but the stakes couldn’t be higher for a state ranking in the bottom five nationally for education.

The one tense exchange of the night came when Taylor attacked Franklin over a 2014 incident in which Franklin scratched a 12-year-old special-needs boy’s head. Taylor also cited Franklin’s past work at the Hissom Memorial Center, a shuttered state institution, accusing him of having a history of abuse. Franklin sharply rebuked the claims, calling the attack unfair and reiterating his commitment to teachers and students. The two also differed on school board appointments, with Franklin endorsing current Superintendent Lindel Fields and Taylor choosing Kendra Wesson.

With the runoff set for Aug. 25, just 11 days away, the winner will face Democrat Jeanettie Marshall in November. For Lawton families, Fort Sill parents, and everyone with kids in Oklahoma classrooms, this race will shape funding, curriculum, and parental rights for years to come. What do you think matters more in this race: a candidate’s past or their plan for the future of our schools?