Beth Wallis
StateImpact Oklahoma Education ReporterBeth Wallis holds a journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma. Originally from Tulsa, she also graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in conducting performance. She was a band director at a public school for five years.
Beth is an alumnus of the Carnegie-Knight News21 Fellowship and NPR Next Generation Radio. She's been recognized for her work by the Hearst Awards, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association. She was awarded Best Podcast from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists for her series "At the Seams," which explores Norman's relationships with political division, police funding and its own racial history.
Beth enjoys hiking, playing with her four dogs and discovering new favorite musical artists.
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State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new PragerU-backed “America First” test for out-of-state teachers is now live. And despite Walters’ claims the test will weed out “woke” teachers, it is impossible to fail. -
The majority of the State Board of Education have called a special meeting to install a new general counsel following conflict over the board’s previous attorney repeatedly siding with State Superintendent Ryan Walters. -
Amid ongoing conflict over who will be the next attorney for the State Board of Education, Thursday’s monthly meeting has been canceled. -
As schools across the state are starting classes, students and parents may notice some changes this year, thanks to the legislature. StateImpact’s Logan Layden and Beth Wallis discuss what’s new for Oklahoma students this school year. -
Glencoe Public Schools filed a suit in Payne County District Court Thursday against the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association over its decision to disallow some students from playing basketball due to an alleged rule violation. -
Last week, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced Oklahoma districts would no longer be required to administer current end-of-the-year math and English tests for third- through eighth-grade. -
Ryan Walters proposes pulling Oklahoma's testing requirement, department asking for federal approvalState Superintendent Ryan Walters says Oklahoma schools will no longer need to use current end-of-the-year math and English Language Arts tests used for third- through eighth-graders. But, Walters’ authority to wipe away the requirement is under question. -
During the late summer and early fall before the next legislative session ramps up, lawmakers will explore issues in interim studies that may turn into bills. -
Public comment closes Friday for proposed ‘teacher effectiveness’ metric on Oklahoma A-F Report CardLawmakers passed a bill this spring to remove chronic absenteeism from Oklahoma schools’ A-F report cards. But the plan from the state department to replace the metric is drawing controversy. -
Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said in a Tuesday news release an incident involving allegations of nude images on State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office television at a July State Board of Education meeting was a “bizarre accident,” according to a review.
