Two Black Women Make History! Lead Largest School Districts In Oklahoma

Ebony Johnson (L) and Jamie Polk. Image Credit: Oklahoma Voice

Oklahoma achieved a significant milestone on Monday with the appointment of a new superintendent for Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS).

For the first time in state history, Black women are simultaneously leading Oklahoma’s two largest school districts, OKCPS and Tulsa Public Schools (TPS).

Jamie Polk assumed her role as the superintendent of OKCPS, succeeding Sean McDaniel.

Meanwhile, Ebony Johnson, who became the first Black woman to lead the Tulsa district in September as interim superintendent, was hired permanently in December.

Polk expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with Johnson to enhance educational experiences and opportunities for students.

“It is our shared belief that every child should see themselves represented in the educators and leaders who guide them in their educational journey,” Polk told Oklahoma Voice.

TPS did not respond to requests for comments from Johnson, but the impact of her and Polk’s appointments is being felt across the state.

Cecilia Robinson-Woods, superintendent of Millwood Public Schools, noted the significance of these hires. She emphasized that this represents a “big step” for women, particularly Black women, in gaining the confidence and trust needed to lead a school district.

Robinson-Woods highlighted the importance of representation for minority children, who often have the lowest test scores.

“It’s not to say just because you have someone of color that things are going to change for those learners, but it does at least give you an insight, and it does at least broaden the conversation about what kids need,” she explained.

Research supports the positive impact of having educators of the same race as minority students, showing improvements in test scores and long-term outcomes.

However, Oklahoma’s public school demographics reveal a stark contrast between the predominantly white educator workforce and the diverse student body. According to state data from the 2022-23 school year, 77% of public educators are white, while over half of all students are racial or ethnic minorities.

Karlos Hill, Regents’ Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, stressed the importance of diverse leadership in achieving equity in education.

“We care about equity both in terms of making sure our kids are fairly educated, but we also should care about the people who are educating them,” Hill said.

Hill also acknowledged Oklahoma’s historical challenges with racial exclusion, which delayed such milestones.

“If we care about equity, we will care about that history of exclusion and the ways in which it shows up today,” he noted.

While Tulsa has not previously had a Black female superintendent, Oklahoma City has seen Black female leadership in the past. Betty Mason became the first woman and African American to lead OKCPS in 1992.

Polk honored Mason, saying:

“We all owe her a debt of gratitude for setting the stage for the historic moment we find ourselves in today.”

Polk plans to continue recruiting diverse teachers through the “Grow Our Own” program, initiated by the OKCPS Foundation in 2016.

This program funds teaching degrees for paraprofessionals within the district, with 25 teachers already having earned their degrees and 81 more on track to graduate this summer.

The foundation has also launched a similar program for aspiring school administrators.

State Senator George Young, representing northeast Oklahoma City, expressed his hopes for Polk’s focus on teacher pipeline programs and overall teacher pay.

“When you’ve got folks who look like you standing in front of you, it does make a difference,” Young said.

Polk, originally from Iowa, has spent 25 years in education, working as a teacher, principal, and district administrator in Lawton Public Schools before being hired by McDaniel in 2019 to oversee OKCPS’s elementary schools. Robinson-Woods praised Polk as a “very personable” leader and a data-driven problem solver.

Similarly, Johnson, raised in Tulsa, has spent her entire career in the district. She is now tasked with steering an academic turnaround amid significant pressure from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Both Polk and Johnson are stepping into their first superintendent roles with a shared commitment to leading their districts with dedication and a deep sense of honor.

“Moving forward, OKCPS will remain steadfast in our dedication to cultivating leadership that reflects the vibrant tapestry of the communities we serve,” Polk affirmed.