'They lied': Supt. Walters doubles down, lawmakers look for answers after botched teacher bonus

OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) - Lawmakers are looking for answers after nearly $300,000 in teacher bonuses were approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Education that shouldn't have been, as first reported by Oklahoma Watch.

When asked several questions State School Superintendent Ryan Walters repeated what he told reporters Thursday, in part, "They lied on their applications."

Walters referred to teachers who filled out the application for the Teacher Sign-On Bonus, who OSDE approved to receive money, and then a week or so ago, they were told to pay it back.

"We didn't find any evidence the teachers were dishonest," said Jennifer Palmer.

Palmer, Beth Wallis, and the Oklahoma Watch team found that the total funding so far seemed to be close to $300,000. They interviewed three teachers but found around nine, and there could be more.

The idea behind the bonus was to recruit more teachers.

There were certain requirements and if OSDE approved you, that means you met the requirements. If so, you would have gotten upwards of $50,000.

"My first thought when I saw that I owed $50,000 to them was to keep myself from going into a constant panic attack. I've had four or five panic attacks since then," said Kay Bojorquez.

She was one of the three interviewed by Oklahoma Watch who due to her having been a certified teacher in 2022 - shouldn't've qualified but she did.

"Honestly it was all so confusing because I tried calling them and emailing to make sure I was okay to qualify and didn't hear back," said Bojorquez.

But then, she said that the money showed up in her bank account in December.

Bojorquez said she had been a caregiver for her mother for years until she passed away in November, the money for the bonus came in December.

"It was such a blessing, I had to pay off debts and get caught up. I thought, 'finally,'" said Bojorquez.

However, on January 13, she received a letter from OSDE that revoked her approval and instead told her to pay back $50,000 by February 24.

"I threw up immediately," said Bojorquez.

Needless to say, Bojorquez won't be able to pay the bill in three weeks.

KFOR also spoke with a special education teacher who owes OSDE $50,000. She is a mother of five who just had a baby a week or so ago. She can't pay the bill either.

"If the Department of Education made a mistake, I think the Department of Education needs to own it," said Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore. "They had the actual documentation and if they okayed it, we have to find out if they did their due diligence."

KFOR reached out to Dan Isett, the Director of Communications for Supt. Walters.

KFOR asked:

• Why did OSDE approve teacher applications if they eventually were denied?
• Last year, the United States Department of Education gave a September 30, 2024 due date of funds if teachers did not fulfill the 5-year requirement. Does that apply here too?
• What is the exact date of return for those teachers who were denied?
• Can these teachers get payment plans? What's the plan if they can't pay it back?
• Are districts at all responsible for either paying back or for dealing with this? If so, how? If not, then who?

Unfortunately, there has been an ongoing effort by the liberal media to tear down and misrepresent our Teacher Bonus Program. In fact, not only is the initial report by Oklahoma Watch inaccurate, it failed to address the more than 500 new teachers recruited back into the classroom.

As part of our continuing plan to administer and audit an active program, we discovered several applicants who had lied on their applications.  Steps are being taken to ensure the integrity of the finances and commitment to the taxpayers. 

OSDE is ensuring that the goals of this program remain intact: to get more teachers back in Oklahoma classrooms, reward teachers for the work of effectively teaching the next generation of Oklahomans, and get Oklahoma schools back on track.

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle sounded off after the report from Oklahoma Watch.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded to KFOR, "Attorney General Drummond is greatly concerned about the reported problems with distributing the funds and is considering the proper role of this office in determining appropriate next steps.”

Senate Education Chair Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, released a rather full press release that said, "I am in the process of reaching out to SDE to find a logical solution to this issue, where the teachers who received the bonuses can keep the money they were given, while figuring out a better process, with better accounting practices moving forward. I am not laying blame on anyone. But if a mistake was made, it needs to be corrected the right way and not lay it on the backs of our teachers.”

Representative Forrest Bennett, D-OKC, stated, "I know it's hard to stay on top of every little thing happening at the department, especially when you spend so little of your time in your office, but to pin the blame on teachers, some of whom were encouraged by school supervisors who believed these teachers were eligible for the program, is beyond unfair."

When asked what she will be doing next, Bojorquez replied, "I haven't even thought that far ahead."

She said she will continue going to work and taking care of her family and hope that something can be done.