Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller filed a lawsuit Thursday against state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, alleging Walters defamed him and cast him and his district in a false light with comments made after the most recent State Board of Education meeting.
Among his criticisms, Walters called Miller "a clown and a liar."
Miller’s lawsuit in Tulsa County District Court asks for damages in excess of $75,000 as well as exemplary and punitive damages as permitted by law, attorney’s fees “and any other relief that is just and equitable and proper.” Miller sued Walters in both Walters’ personal and professional capacities.
The lawsuit claims Walters “maliciously uttered slanderous and defamatory statements against Superintendent Miller which were foreseeably broadcast disseminated state and nationwide.”
Dan Isett, a spokesman for Walters, said Miller's lawsuit was without metit.
"No one is surprised that Miller would abuse the legal system by filing a frivolous lawsuit after trying for days to defame Superintendent Walters in the media," Isett said. "This lawsuit is a political stunt by a man with a vendetta, not a legal case."
The lawsuit is one of at least 13, in both state and federal court, in which Walters is a defendant. One of those is a defamation case filed by former Norman teacher Summer Boismier in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City. That case is set to go to trial in June 2025 after a federal judge rejected Walters’ attempt to dismiss the lawsuit.
Since 2018, Miller has served as the superintendent of Bixby, a suburb located south of Tulsa. He was named as a region superintendent of the year in 2020. During his time as a teacher and administrator in Jenks Public Schools, Miller was named as the state middle school principal of the year in 2014. That fall, he was a finalist for the national principal of the year award. While working in the Sand Springs Public Schools district, Miller was the state assistant superintendent of the year in 2018.
The lawsuit is the latest in a back-and-forth between Walters and Miller. On X on July 27 , Miller questioned why there has been a long delay in the Oklahoma State Department of Education informing school districts as to how much their federal funding allocations under Title I might be.
Title I money is allocated based on the number of low-income students served by families. Those numbers, provided to districts by the agency’s past administrations in late spring or early summer, are vital in helping districts plan budgets and determining how many teachers they could hire. The fiscal year began on July 1.
After the board meeting four days later, Walters verbally lashed out against Miller and hinted of potential financial improprieties within the Bixby district.
“He’s a liar,” Walters said when asked about Miller. “I mean, he’s really a true embarrassment. He knows every year when he gets the Title I funds, and we’re dealing with all kinds of financial problems with his district that we’re hoping to address right now. So you know, Rob ― Rob’s a clown and a liar. So he knows that. Same time every year — at least late August. It’s the same way it’s been every year for, my team tells me, over a decade. So he knows that has been communicated to districts. Rob’s never reached out, never indicated there’s an issue. There’s not an issue. He made it up. So he wants his name in the press.”
In response, the Bixby district released a clean annual audit and said Walters had engaged in “baseless defamation” of district employees. Miller demanded an apology for Walters’ personal insults. The lawsuit said Walters hasn’t apologized, but instead has doubled down in subsequent media interviews.
On Aug. 1, the agency sent an email to school districts saying all federal allocations, including Title I, would be published by Friday, Aug. 16.
Lawsuit came after legislators expressed concern about Walters' comments on Bixby superintendent
Earlier this week, three Republican state legislators ― Rep. Chris Banning of Bixby, Rep. Josh West of Grove and Rep. Ty Burns of Pawnee ― issued a strongly worded statement expressing concern with Walters’ comments about Miller. Like Miller, who's a former Marine officer, Banning, West and Burns are military veterans.
"As former military leaders, we know the qualities that define good leadership: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage,” the statement read. “Just as important are the lessons on how not to lead. Over the past four years, we've witnessed Ryan Walters' often questionable leadership and tactics.”
After the incident involving Miller, the legislators said, “we decided we couldn't sit back any longer. Though we do not speak for others, we cannot stand by while a respected leader and veteran is insulted and demeaned for simply doing his job. Walters' behavior is unbecoming of any leader, especially the highest-ranking person in the Oklahoma public school system.
"Our time in the military taught us to listen to those serving on the front lines. That same principle applies here. School superintendents like Miller provide valuable insights into local issues, and yet Walters refuses to listen to those around him or take responsibility for his missteps.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bixby superintendent files defamation lawsuit against Ryan Walters after meeting comments
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