Oklahoma Secretary of Education

Oklahoma
Secretary of Education
Great Seal of Oklahoma
Agency overview
Formed June 6, 1986
Headquarters 655 Research Parkway
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees 1,128 (FY2011)
Annual budget $6 billion (FY2011)
Minister responsible Phyllis Hudecki, Secretary of Education
Child agencies Oklahoma State Department of Education
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Website
Office of the Secretary of Education

The Oklahoma Secretary of Education is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on public education issues and needs.

The 3rd and current Secretary is Phyllis Hudecki, having been appointed by Governor Mary Fallin on January 10, 2011.

Contents

History

The position of Secretary of Education was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986. The Act directs the Secretary of Education to advise the Governor on public education policy and advise the state public education agencies on new policy as directed by the Governor.

Dual Position

Oklahoma state law allows for Cabinet Secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a State agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet Secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Education has not served in any such dual position.

Responsibilities

The Secretary of Education oversees the State's public education system. This includes elementary education, secondary education, vocational education and higher education. The Secretary is chiefly responsible for ensuring accountability and performance from the educational system. The Secretary also oversees all libraries in the State and is responsible for ensuring that teachers are appropriately prepared to perform their duties.

As of fiscal year 2011, the Secretary of Education oversees 1,128 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of over $6 billion. Of that budget, only $209 million (or 3%) is spent on operating the State agencies. The remaining $5.9 billion is used as payments to local education agencies, such as school districts and universities, to support their activities.

Agencies overseen

The Secretary of Human Services oversees the following state entities:

Salary

The annual salary for the position of Secretary of Human Services set by State law at $65,000.[1] Despite this, if the Secretary serves as the head of State agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries.

List of Secretaries

# Name Took Office Left Office Governor served under
1 Sandy Garrett 1987 1991 Henry Bellmon
1991 1995 David Walters
2 Floyd Coppedge 1995 2003 Frank Keating
Vacant 2003 2011 Brad Henry
3 Phyllis Hudecki January 10, 2011 Present Mary Fallin

References

  1. ^ Paragraph 4, Section 10.5, Title 74, Oklahoma Statutes

External links