Joy Hofmeister

Under Hofmeister’s leadership, the Oklahoma State Department of Education developed a new system of assessment and accountability in 2017, complete with a more reliable School Report Card system, fulfilling mandates established by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The new calculation – built on the principle that all students can grow and all schools can improve – gives equal weight to student achievement and student growth in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. Other indicators include English language proficiency assessment (ELPA) progress, graduation rate, postsecondary opportunities and chronic absenteeism.

Hofmeister also oversaw the development of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for computer science, which were adopted in 2018. These new standards for all grades were developed in an effort to ready students for an emerging job market demanding familiarity with computer science and rewards expertise in coding, programming and data analysis.   

In 2018, the Oklahoma Legislature passed House Bill 1010xx, which raised more than half a billion dollars in revenue for the state. The landmark legislation, the first to earn the required three-fourths majority in both chambers since 1992, allowed for the first teacher pay raise in 10 years – an average salary increase of $6,100 for certified personnel. In addition, all full-time school support staff received a pay increase of $1,250. This measure was a significant victory for Hofmeister, who had advocated for competitive teacher pay since first taking office.

Hofmeister has worked to initiate a discussion surrounding mental health and resiliency for children, exploring the science of childhood trauma and its effects on learning. The Oklahoma State Department of Education organized statewide summits in 2018 and 2019, offering training for educators who are often the first to encounter trauma in individual children. Hofmeister is also pursuing the addition of a School Counselor Corps to increase the number of counselors in schools.

Hofmeister shepherded the introduction of Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs) into high schools and middle schools in 2017. The program aims to engage and prepare students for the challenges of college and high-skill industry certification through mentoring, internships and personalized student academic planning.

On August 1, 2017, District Attorney David Prater dismissed all charges against Hofmeister originating from complaints of conspiracy and accepting illegal campaign contributions. Prater confirmed in an October 2, 2018, interview that any investigation into Hofmeister was completely over.

In 2016, Hofmeister led the charge to eliminate statewide end-of-instruction (EOI) exams for high school students, reducing the number of standardized tests to only those required under federal law (except US History), thereby significantly reducing testing costs.

Joy Hofmeister currently serves as Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Hofmeister was sworn in as Oklahoma's 14th State Superintendent on January 12, 2015, after defeating the incumbent Republican candidate, Janet Barresi, in the primary election and Democratic candidate John Cox in the general election. Hofmeister was re-elected November 6, 2018, and sworn in for a second four-year term as State Superintendent on January 14, 2019. Hofmeister won re-election in 2018 after facing Democrat John Cox a second time as well as Independent candidate Larry Huff.

Hofmeister graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education from Texas Christian University, and holds teaching certificates in English and Elementary Education. As of May 2015, she is earning her master's degree in Education Administration with a specialty in Education Policy and Law from the University of Oklahoma.

In 2015, under Hofmeister’s leadership, the Oklahoma State Department of Education created a statewide program for all high school juniors to take the ACT at no cost to families or schools, opening postsecondary opportunities and scholarships for students. The program was expanded to allow a district to choose between ACT or SAT in 2016. In 2017, the program sparked a 29 percent increase in ACT participation, the highest in the nation.

Hofmeister ushered in new Oklahoma Academic Standards in English language arts and mathematics after the Oklahoma Legislature repealed Common Core in 2014. The new standards brought back phonics and cursive writing and strengthened math foundations with vertically aligned objectives. Drafts of the standards were reviewed by thousands of Oklahoma classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, parents, legislators, business professionals and members of the public who participated in multiple rounds of public comment. Education Next gave the new standards an “A” for rigor and overall quality after it had given the previous standards a “D+”.

She served on the Oklahoma State Board of Education from January 2012 through April 2013 as an appointee of Governor Mary Fallin.