Nuria Martinez-Keel is a journalist for Oklahoma Voice who recently covered the story of Sean McDaniel, the former superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools. McDaniel spent 39 years in education, with his last six years as the superintendent of OKCPS. However, in February, he announced his resignation, citing differences with the district’s school board. This decision shocked the Oklahoma City community, as McDaniel was the longest-tenured superintendent in three decades.
The transition away from OKCPS has been a time of reflection and reset for McDaniel. He is now looking to leverage his experience in school leadership to launch a consulting business to help school districts and other entities improve their organizational structure and address operational challenges. While he is optimistic about this new venture, McDaniel has not ruled out the possibility of working as a superintendent again or even running for public office in the future.
During his time at OKCPS, McDaniel led the district through significant changes, including a consolidation plan to close and reconfigure schools, as well as the passing of a $955 million bond issue, the largest in district history. Despite facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and disagreements with the school board, McDaniel’s commitment to servant leadership and problem-solving without seeking credit helped guide OKCPS through turbulent times.
As McDaniel moves on to his next chapter, he expressed confidence in the board’s choice of Jamie Polk as his successor. Polk, who previously served as the district’s head of elementary schools, plans to continue building strong partnerships with the community and improving student performance through data-driven strategies. McDaniel believes that Polk is more than capable of leading OKCPS to new heights and is confident in the district’s future under her leadership.
In conclusion, Sean McDaniel’s departure from OKCPS marks the end of an era, but it also signals a new beginning for the district under the leadership of Jamie Polk. McDaniel’s legacy of servant leadership and dedication to improving education will continue to influence OKCPS, as the district moves forward with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.