Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson on Monday told the Tulsa Regional Chamber Board of Directors that the city should unify in support of TPS.

“The word needs to get out that we are very serious about student performance,” Johnson said. “We are very serious about being accountable and holding others accountable for that work. Also, we are a great city, and we are a great district. People need to lock arms right now more than ever so that we can keep our local control.”

Johnson participated in a dialogue moderated by Nicole Morgan, CEO of Resolute PR and the Chamber’s 2024 TPS liaison.

“It’s only appropriate that we have the time, space and opportunity to work the plan,” Johnson said. “It’s not fair if we’re not given the time, space and opportunity, and that word should get out there. We should take care of our own city, and we can do it.”

Hours after meeting with the Chamber board, the Tulsa school board voted to make Johnson the first Black woman to lead TPS on a permanent basis (through June 30, 2026).

Amid state takeover threats and a recent insistence by State Education Superintendent Ryan Walters on a nationwide search for other candidates, Johnson had served as TPS’ interim superintendent since Sept. 16 after the district’s Board of Education approved a mutual separation agreement with Dr. Deborah Gist.

Before the Chamber board on Monday, Johnson detailed the hurdles facing TPS, the state’s largest school district (with more than 33,000 students) and Tulsa’s third-largest employer.

Those challenges include the impacts of chronic absenteeism, the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, and enrolling an average of 100 new students weekly, including immigrants requiring language assistance.

Johnson talked about the importance of her three R’s: being responsive, results-oriented and resilient.

“Being a Tulsan, being a north Tulsan and just understanding the complexities of what it means to be resilient, has really guided me in this work and has really made this profession for me both personal and professional,” said Johnson, a graduate of McLain High School and former principal at three north Tulsa schools.

The veteran educator said it will take time to make the corrective actions mandated by Walters.

She also urged the business community to “get the facts” when evaluating her progress and that of TPS.

“Know the truth. Ask for the truth,” Johnson said. “Invite me in to meetings like this and get the actual facts about what is happening in Tulsa Public Schools.

“…We have so many situations where we are changing the narrative out there through proof of what’s happening right now in our schools with our students. And they are doing great things. Do we have a ways to go?‘Yes.’ Are we proud right now of our data that speaks to the level of urgency and need around proficiency? We are not proud of that data. We know we have work to do.”

The meeting concluded with Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal reaffirming unwavering Chamber support for Johnson and TPS.