Former TPS Superintendent heads back to class

Dr. Keith Ballard, former superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, will join the faculty of the University of Oklahoma’s Tulsa campus next month.

“Having served at Tulsa Public Schools during a period of intense change there is much I can do to assist in the development of educational leadership in K-12, particularly in cultivating new school superintendents,” said Dr. Ballard.

The former head of one of the largest school district’s in the state is the new director of the Professional Development and Leadership Academy and professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Gregg Garn, Ph.D., dean of the college, said, “We’re excited that Dr. Ballard will be joining our faculty. Students will benefit tremendously from his vast and varied experience.”

Ballard retired from TPS after seven years with the district.

His replacement is Dr. Deborah Gist. Her last job was in Rhode Island, but she grew up in Tulsa and graduated from Memorial High School in 1986.

Dr. Gist is the first woman to lead Tulsa Public Schools.