As students enjoy the blistering heat of summer and educators and administrators alike prepare for the upcoming school year, a key education leader has announced his departure and the legal wheels continue to spin.
Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin is headed to one of the state’s biggest rivals — the University of Texas. Meanwhile, Edmond Public Schools and an Edmond-based private school are facing new lawsuits, one of which stems from the resignation of an elementary school principal last August. The Epic criminal case is facing new delays after its fourth anniversary, thanks to last-minute motions by the defense. And an appellate court upheld a lower court’s ruling in a lawsuit against the State Department of Education over a gender marker rule implemented under Ryan Walters, compelling the State Board of Education to hold a due process hearing for the unnamed plaintiff.
As summer rolls on, the Oklahoma education roundup below offers a compilation of legal and leadership developments you may have missed while sunbathing, shooting off fireworks within city limits or traveling.
Appellate panel affirms ruling on gender marker rule
A Court of Civil Appeals panel affirmed a Cleveland County judge’s ruling on the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s gender marker rule, which caused some controversy when it was implemented under then-Superintendent Ryan Walters.
The rule, which was unanimously adopted at a State Board of Education meeting in 2023, prohibits districts from changing a student’s gender marker in their records without approval from the board and requires districts to inform the board of possible legal action regarding student records and gender identity.
In December 2023, the parent of a Moore Public Schools student challenged the rule in court. They argued the board lacked authority to adopt the rule and that their rights under the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act, the Oklahoma Parents’ Bill of Rights, the Oklahoma Constitution, the U.S. Constitution and Title IX law were violated. Specifically, they honed in on due process rights.
Cleveland County District Court Judge Michael Tupper rejected the argument that the board lacked the authority to make the rule, but he agreed the plaintiff’s due process rights under OAPA and the Oklahoma Constitution were violated because the parent and student were not given “notice and an opportunity to be heard” by OSDE. Thus, Tupper declared the agency’s Oct. 26, 2023, vote on the plaintiff’s request to change their gender marker “null and void.”
“Defendants must provide plaintiff J. Doe with notice and an opportunity to be heard on their request for a gender marker change to their school records,” Tupper wrote in his order.
In January 2025, plaintiffs appealed and continued their argument in their petition in error.
On Monday, the appellate court panel — while noting the significant turnover in OSDE leadership and state board makeup — affirmed the lower court’s opinion.
“The trial court found (the) board had authority to make the rule, but also that (the) board had denied Doe’s right to due process by denying Doe’s request to change their gender designation without notice. We affirm by summary opinion,” the court wrote.
Because the ruling is a summary opinion, it has limited use as precedent.
OSDE spokesperson Tara Thompson said the agency is “pleased to have a resolution” to the two-year-old case.
“Our legal counsel is now reviewing possible next steps for the state board as outlined in the filing,” Thompson said.
Based on the appellate court ruling, the Moore student’s attorney said they now have the right to request a hearing, although it is not immediately clear if one will be requested.
Hamlin ‘bullish’ on Oklahoma as he heads south
Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin is set to depart Oklahoma to become Dean of the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin, Oklahoma Voice first reported.
In a press release, Hamlin said he was “deeply honored to join” the college.
“The college has an extraordinary record of research, teaching and engagement with schools and communities,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin had been a prominent voice in Oklahoma education circles before becoming Gov. Kevin Stitt’s latest secretary of education, through his work at the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy. His prominence became more widespread in his executive role as he helped steward legislative changes during a time of reorganization to state-level education leadership.
In an interview July 8, Hamlin reflected on some of the changes he was involved in as a Cabinet secretary, like raising the number of minimum school days, literacy reforms and work to address Oklahoma’s teacher shortage. He predicted notable improvement in education outcomes moving forward.
“I think we are going to see gains in the coming academic year, and I think we are going to see even greater gains over the long run as these initiatives unfold and kind of take shape,” Hamlin said. “I think we are going to see much stronger outcomes in Oklahoma. So I am totally bullish on the state of Oklahoma over the short and long term when it comes to education.”
During one of the final Senate Education Committee meetings of this year’s legislative session, some Senators expressed a desire April 28 for leadership continuity heading into the next governor’s administration.
“Whoever is elected governor should continue with Mr. Hamlin being the secretary,” said Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa). “He is a big plus for our state in education.”
Reacting to Hamlin’s departure, Senate Education Chairman Adam Pugh (R-Edmond) congratulated Hamlin on his new position and expressed gratitude for his expertise and knowledge.
“He has been an invaluable asset to me and the Senate Education Committee, providing the evidence-based data, rigorous research and policy insight necessary to craft impactful legislation for Oklahomans,” Pugh said. “From evaluating reading sufficiency models to supporting foundational changes in public instruction, Dan’s collaborative leadership and deep dedication to educational excellence have left a lasting mark on our state. His knowledge and skillset are something that I will still rely on as he moves south of the Red River.”
Senate Education Committee Vice Chairwoman Ally Seifried (R-Claremore) expressed a similar sentiment and said she hopes “someday we can entice him to come back across the Red River.”
“Dan was a driving force for positive change in education across Oklahoma, especially his work in addressing the teacher shortage and strengthening our pipeline,” Seifried said. “He spent every moment of his tenure as secretary of education and his time at OU focused on students and improving education outcomes.”
Epic delays continue, put a pin in formal arraignment of Harris, Chaney
One day after its fourth anniversary, the lengthy criminal case against Epic Charter Schools co-founders David Chaney and Ben Harris faced yet another delay.
In the days leading up to the formal arraignment of Chaney and Harris scheduled for June 24, their attorneys filed motions to quash the second amended information and have the case dismissed for alleged procedural missteps, insufficient evidence and a more than 30-day gap between their bind over at the end of the preliminary hearing stage and the formal arraignment. The filings delayed the formal arraignment.
“Mr. Chaney has not yet entered a plea in this matter. He has not waived his right to be arraigned with(in) 30 days of April 30, 2026,” attorney Gary Wood wrote in a June 22 motion. “A failure to conduct an arraignment no later than May 30, 2026, is an irregularity in the proceedings that has not been waived and requires that the second amended information be quashed and set aside, resulting in a dismissal of this case.”
Harris’ attorney, Joe White, made a similar argument in a motion filed June 23 seeking to quash the second amended information, and he noted the length of the case.
“While the state will likely argue the length of the delay between the time Mr. Harris was bound over for trial and the arraignment was minor, such argument would fail to acknowledge that the preliminary hearing in this matter was held over the course of nine days beginning in early 2024 and ending in February 2026. Thus, the delay here is significant,” White wrote. “Further, Mr. Harris is prejudiced by the delay due to the fact that the state has charged Mr. Harris with crimes dating back over a decade. Memories fade; evidence may be lost; witnesses are not as easily found.”
Wood and White also filed motions to quash that argued the second amended information should be set aside for insufficient evidence. A hearing on the recently filed motions is set for Sept. 4. If the defense’s motions are not successful, the formal arraignment would move forward sometime thereafter, barring additional delays.
Parents suing Keystone Adventure School and Farm
Parents at Keystone Adventure School and Farm are suing the school and its board to compel the disclosure of documents after leadership changes caught the community off guard.
Keystone is an “art-based” private preschool and elementary school located on a working farm in Edmond. At the heart of the school’s educational philosophy is a desire to let kids be kids. However, in their petition, parents are claiming that leadership changes have disrupted the community.
“During or about 2026, Keystone’s Board of Directors undertook actions including the termination of key personnel without sufficient basis for termination, resulting in substantial disruption, including student withdrawals, faculty resignations, distrust of the board and executive personnel and community unrest,” attorney Kevin Ferdowsian wrote on behalf of the parent plaintiffs.
According to their petition, the plaintiffs believe the board has “not acted within compliance of its governing authority, fiduciary obligations and nonprofit governance requirements.” The parents claim they have “repeatedly requested” governing documents, including bylaws, but have been unsuccessful. They claim the bylaws have been amended “at various times” without disclosure.
“Based on information and belief, the board’s actions during March through May 2026 substantially deviated from the normal processes over the previous 20 years,” Ferdowsian wrote.
According to the petition, 10 teachers notified the board in May of their intent to resign. That could be the vast majority of the school’s educators since the petition claims the school has only 12 educators.
Through their lawsuit, plaintiffs are seeking to compel answers and documents from the board. They are seeking declaratory relief from the court, including disclosure of governing documents and board minutes. They are also seeking the court’s input to determine “whether the actions taken by the board are valid and enforceable,” if parents, donors and other stakeholders have the right to review governing documents and board minutes, as well as if the board “acted appropriately by failing to disclose such documents.”
They are also requesting injunctive relief to preserve governing documents and related communications, the production of bylaws, articles of incorporation and board minutes going back two years, as well as board minutes and resolutions approving amendments to the bylaws.
They are also asking the court to compel Keystone to provide “an account sufficient to identify the governing structure, accounting procedures and personnel policies.
Plaintiffs ultimately believe they have been misled.
“As a direct and proximate result of Keystone’s negligent misrepresentation and omissions, plaintiffs have suffered damages including loss of educational opportunity, loss of enrollment opportunities at competing schools, payment of tuition and fees under false pretenses, additional educational expenses, disruption of educational planning and childcare and loss of time and resources associated with securing alternative educational placements,” Ferdowsian wrote.
Ferdowsian declined to comment at this stage. Keystone had not filed a response in the case prior to the publication of this article, but the school’s board disputed the lawsuit’s merit in a statement.
“Several Keystone Adventure School parents were dissatisfied with a personnel change and have withdrawn their students, cancelled their contract with Keystone and filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit school,” the board said through a spokesperson. “Essentially, the lawsuit seeks information related to personnel matters which are confidential. It is Keystone’s position that this lawsuit lacks merit.”
Former principal suing EPS, two administrators
A principal who left Edmond Public Schools at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year is suing the district and two administrators.
In August 2025, Anissa Angier-Dunn resigned from Will Rogers Elementary School days into the school year. Her departure left the school’s community confused and with questions about what transpired. Her petition against the district, former executive director of elementary education Cara Jernigan and executive director of human resources Randy Decker, sheds some light on the turmoil that led to her resignation — at least from her perspective.
“Dunn served the district for more than 10 years and maintained consistently positive performance evaluations until she was placed under the supervision of defendant Jernigan,” Angier-Dunn’s attorney, Heath Merchen, wrote.
Jernigan was recently featured in an Oklahoma Watch article that examined an ongoing administrative restructuring in the district. According to the article from Andrea Eger, the shakeup has led to nearly $90,000 in payments and came months after the district renewed administrative contracts before eliminating some of the positions it had just renewed, including Jernigan’s.
Angier-Dunn’s petition outlines three particular sources of tension during her employment.
In one circumstance, Angier-Dunn and district administrators clashed over the employment of a para-educator whom she alleges had a history of misconduct. Angier-Dunn alleges she asked Decker and Jernigan if the para-educator had a disciplinary history, which they denied. The petition alleges their denial was knowingly false.
“After two district employees informed Dunn of the individual’s repeated history, Dunn removed him from the classroom and demanded that he be removed from the building,” Merchen wrote.
Angier-Dunn alleges that Decker and Jernigan attempted to block the para-educator’s removal but that they were unsuccessful and “openly angered” by the situation
Dunn also alleges that the Will Rogers playground lacked sufficient accessibility measures to accommodate special needs students, a concern that has surfaced from other sources at the school and led to a federal civil rights complaint. Angier-Dunn claimed Jernigan acknowledged the insufficiency, but she said that work did not occur for at least two years.
“After Dunn’s notice of claim was served, construction activity at the school increased markedly,” Merchen wrote.
Dunn also alleges that administrators sought to have her remove a military reservist teacher while they were actively deployed. According to the lawsuit, she refused to dismiss the employee. A similar situation required a 2025 federal legal settlement payment by Oklahoma City Public Schools.
“On each occasion, the district’s own legal counsel confirmed that the directed action would be unlawful,” Merchen wrote.
EPS spokesperson Jeff Bardach said the district does not comment on pending litigation.
