Jennettie Marshall, a Democrat and former Tulsa Public Schools board member, is running for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Republican Robert Franklin.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Education: Associate's degree in political science and government, Tulsa Junior College; bachelor's degree in corrections, Langston University; master's degree in management, Southern Nazarene University; associate's degree in funeral service and mortuary science, Dallas Institute of Funeral Service; master of religious arts in divinity, Integrity Seminary; doctorate in pastoral psychology, Integrity Seminary (education details from BallotReady and Marshall's campaign website)

Experience and public service

Marshall served as a District 3 board member on the Tulsa Public Schools board from 2017 to 2025, according to BallotReady.

She said on her campaign website that she worked 17 years as a probation and parole officer and case manager for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and three years as a child welfare investigator with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Marshall also said she has served as a chaplain for the Tulsa Police Department and for Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease.

Marshall said she founded Reclaim Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity, in 1994 and is the founding pastor of Living Sanctuary Evangelistic Ministries. She said she has been preaching and serving congregations throughout Oklahoma for more than 32 years.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Marshall's responses on BallotReady and her campaign website.

Teacher pay and retention: Marshall said prioritizing increased teacher salaries to be competitive with neighboring states and the national average is vital to addressing Oklahoma's teacher shortage. She said she supports improving working conditions by reducing administrative burdens, providing adequate classroom resources and championing mentorship initiatives for new teachers to reduce turnover.

Budget transparency and agency oversight: Marshall said she supports a top-to-bottom review of the Oklahoma State Department of Education to ensure it operates with maximum efficiency and transparency. She said re-evaluating spending and staffing at the agency can ensure taxpayer dollars reach classrooms rather than being diverted to what she called "political operatives or unnecessary bureaucratic functions." She also said districts should be transparent about how funding directly benefits classroom instruction.

Parental involvement and curriculum: Marshall said parents are a child's first and most important teacher. She said she supports policies that facilitate communication between parents, teachers and administrators. She also said reviewing curriculum standards can ensure they are academically rigorous, free from political influence and prepare students for college and careers.

Student achievement and absenteeism: Marshall said schools should focus on core academic subjects like reading, writing and math, areas where she said Oklahoma students are falling behind. She said addressing chronic absenteeism through community collaboration is needed to improve student learning.

Special education: Marshall said she supports ensuring every student with an individualized education program receives the services outlined in their plan. She said she would advocate for reducing caseloads for special education teachers and ensuring state funding for special education reaches students transparently and effectively.

Candidate responses were submitted through BallotReady questionnaires and the candidate's campaign website. Tulsa Dispatch presents them for informational purposes and does not endorse any candidate.