Walters was ousted on April 11, 2023 after failing to resign from his position upon taking office as the elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 9, 2023.

The position of Secretary of Education was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986.

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.

The remaining $5.9 billion is used as payments to local education agencies, such as school districts and universities, to support their activities.