Robert Franklin, a 66-year-old Sand Springs Republican, is running for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Democrat Jennettie Marshall.

Franklin won the Republican runoff on Aug. 25, defeating James Taylor 55% to 45%, according to Oklahoma Voice.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Age: 66
  • Residence: Sand Springs, Oklahoma
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in special education, Northeastern State University (1984); master's degree in education administration, Northeastern State University (1984); doctorate in education, University of Oklahoma (2020)
  • Notable recognition: Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame inductee

Franklin said on his campaign website that he has 44 years in education.

Experience and public service

Franklin previously served as associate superintendent at Tulsa Technology Center, and as a lecturer at the University of Oklahoma since 2024, according to BallotReady. He also serves as a board member on the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, according to The Frontier. Franklin said during a GOP debate that he previously worked as an assistant principal at a junior high school in Oklahoma, as reported by NonDoc.

On the issues

Teacher workforce: Franklin has identified rebuilding the teacher workforce pipeline as his top priority. During a GOP primary debate, he said, "I don't care how high our standards are (or) how many things we want to clap and yell for, if we don't have teachers that we celebrate and support … we will not get where we need to be," as reported by NonDoc. He said he supports improving professional development and recruiting strong leaders into classrooms, according to his BallotReady questionnaire responses.

Student mental health: Franklin said adding more mental health professionals at school districts would be a priority. He said students struggling with mental health and behavioral issues are affecting classroom instruction and that schools need additional support resources, according to NonDoc's debate coverage.

School choice and accountability: Franklin said he supports school choice and believes families should have options, according to his campaign website. He also said school choice should come with high standards, clear accountability and a commitment to using education dollars effectively.

Academic fundamentals: Franklin said Oklahoma schools must focus on reading, math, classroom discipline and strong academic expectations, according to his campaign website. He emphasized early literacy and numeracy so students have a foundation before they fall behind.

Religious instruction: Franklin said during the superintendent runoff debate that religious instruction was an undue burden on teachers and suggested teaching religion should be left to family and religious leaders, as reported by Oklahoma Watch.

Federal education funding: Franklin argued during the runoff debate that the prior administration under Ryan Walters did not pursue federal education dollars and that Oklahoma should have applied for those grants, according to Oklahoma Watch.

Instructional days: Franklin opposed a legislative mandate to increase the minimum number of instructional days, calling it overreach. He argued local communities should make that decision, according to NonDoc.

Candidate positions are drawn from debate coverage by NonDoc and Oklahoma Watch, the candidate's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire responses. Responses reflect the candidate's own statements.