Can Oklahoma schools improve without the drama? Adam Pugh says yes

By Andy Dossett, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

Dec. 20, 2025

Oklahoma state Sen. Adam Pugh said he isn't here to lob grenades or chase headlines — he's here to talk plans.

In a political landscape still echoing from the controversies of former State Superintendent Ryan Walters, Pugh is betting that steady leadership and collaboration will win the day.

During a recent stop in Bartlesville, the Edmond Republican sat down with the Examiner-Enterprise to discuss his campaign for state superintendent, which began in October 2025. The longtime chair of the Senate Education Committee emphasized what he sees as a stark contrast in tone and approach from his predecessor.

"Going on social media and yelling and screaming and just don't think that solves anything," Pugh said. "I actually think it's toxic."

State Sen. Adam Pugh greets community members as he introduces himself during Arvest Bank’s Friday Community Forum on Dec. 19, 2025, in Bartlesville.

Pugh said education chief should act as agency leader, not micromanager

Pugh, now in his tenth year in the Legislature, has chaired the Senate Education Committee for five of those. He's no stranger to shaping policy, and he said he believes the state's top education official should function more like the head of a strategic agency than a district superintendent.

"You're not running a school district," Pugh said. "You're leading a $6 billion agency that supports more than 500 districts — not micromanages them."

He likened his vision for the role to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's eight-year road plan: clear priorities, measurable goals, and transparency on where the money's going. He's brought a similar playbook to the Senate, publicizing his annual education agenda and actively soliciting buy-in from lawmakers.

Now, he wants to bring that philosophy to the top floor of the Oliver Hodge building.

In Bartlesville, Pugh seeks local input on education priorities

Pugh said his Bartlesville visit wasn't a photo op — it was part of a statewide listening tour to hear directly from educators and community leaders.

"I got on the road at five o’clock this morning to spend a day in Bartlesville," Pugh said. "Hearing and visiting and learning — just to ask, okay, how do we do this together?”

Pugh championed local control and flexibility in graduation requirements, working directly with school districts like Bartlesville to tailor coursework that aligns with students' real-world goals.

"Sometimes just passing an umbrella law that treats every school district the same doesn't allow communities to be flexible to what they care about," Pugh said. "What works in Edmond might not work in Bartlesville or southeastern Oklahoma.”

Air Force vet, dad and former sub says real-world experience matters

Unlike many of his opponents, Pugh doesn't come from a traditional education background — but he insists that doesn't mean he lacks classroom experience. He's a certified instructor through the U.S. Air Force, spent years as a substitute teacher, and still visits schools regularly.

And he's quick to point out: he's also a dad.

"I’ve got three little kids in public schools and in the Edmond public school system, so I’m living it every day," Pugh said. "I’m seeing the challenges and I'm seeing the successes."

That perspective, he said, fuels his belief that educators have too often been left out of the decision-making process. As chair of the Senate Education Committee, he said he's made a habit of asking every superintendent who visits the Capitol one simple question: What can the Legislature do to help you?

"I had a number of them remark that they've never been asked," Pugh said. "They’ve just never felt like invited to the table.”

Pugh distances himself from Walters with collaborative approach

Though he avoids directly criticizing Walters — who resigned in September 2025 before his term expired — Pugh made it clear he intends to lead differently.

"The job of superintendent isn't to be the loudest person in the room," he said. "It's to walk the halls of the Capitol, advocate for funding, and bring people together. I believe in collaboration and that's what's been missing.”

He described a key difference not in ideology, but in governance.

"It wasn't necessarily the policy, as much as it was, well, the State Department doesn't have that authority," Pugh said.

Literacy, workforce readiness and teacher support top Pugh's agenda

If elected, Pugh said he'll focus heavily on early literacy, principal development and preparing students for a rapidly changing economy — goals he says align with both workforce needs and educational best practices.

He said critical thinking, adaptability, and soft skills are just as important as test scores. Whether a kid goes to college, joins the military, or picks up a trade, Pugh said Oklahoma schools need to equip them with real, usable skills.

He also stressed the importance of improving school culture, particularly the disconnect he sees between teachers and administrators. Pugh said school culture plays a critical role in retention.

“People don't quit jobs — they quit bosses,” Pugh said. “We need to empower principals to create positive, supportive environments where teachers feel heard and valued."

Pugh rejects '50th in the nation' education ranking as misleading

When asked about Oklahoma's frequent branding as one of the lowest-ranked states in education, Pugh didn’t mince words.

"I don't believe we're 50th," he said. "That's junk science.”

But he's not interested in debating rankings. Instead, he said the focus should be on constant improvement. He referenced a quote often used by Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti about having the "amnesia of success," saying the mindset should be showing up each day intent on doing better than the day before.

Pugh said whether the state is ranked first, 50th or somewhere in between, it doesn't change the mission — preparing students for a fast-changing economy. That, he argued, requires adaptable education policy, critical thinking skills, and strong links between schools and workforce development.

He plans to continue advocating for early childhood literacy programs and flexible graduation requirements that reflect local needs and workforce realities. But just as importantly, he said, any major education reform must start by listening to teachers, reading specialists, and early childhood experts — not bypassing them.

"If we're not asking experts, we're going to pass something that's going to have no buy-in, and I don't think it'll be a successful plan for us," Pugh said.

Senator highlights legislative record and leadership background

Pugh enters a crowded Republican primary field that includes school administrators and education outsiders alike. But unlike his rivals, he brings a robust legislative resume — including work on teacher pay raises, expanded maternity leave, and updates to the state's salary schedule that allow educators to earn raises over a 40-year career.

He's also an Air Force captain veteran and an aerospace industry entrepreneur, an experience he says taught him how to manage organizations and build coalitions. Pugh said the job is about leadership, management and service — all things he said he has a track record of doing.

As he wrapped up, Pugh returned to what he sees as the foundation for progress in Oklahoma schools: trust and teamwork.

"What's been missing the last couple of years is that feeling of we’re going to do this together," Pugh said.

Pugh said he plans to return to Bartlesville on Jan. 8 for additional campaign events and community meetings.