OKLAHOMA CITY — Longtime Board of Education Chair Paula Lewis has announced that she will resign from the Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) Board of Education, effective immediately, following her family’s decision to relocate outside of the district’s boundaries.
After much thought and many conversations as a family, Lewis said the decision reflects a new season of life. With two adult children, one still in high school, the joy of becoming grandparents, and the blessing of still having their parents, she and her wife, Missy, have chosen a home in Northeast Oklahoma City that better supports their family’s evolving needs.
Because their new home is located outside the boundaries of Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma law requires Lewis to step down from the Board of Education, as Board members must reside within the district they represent.
Lewis was first elected to the Board of Education in 2016 and has served as Board Chair since 2017. During her more than 10 years of service, she helped to guide Oklahoma City Public Schools through one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history – including leadership transitions, the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of Student Outcomes Focused Governance, the establishment of the District’s Goals and Guardrails, two successful bond elections, expanded investments in early childhood education, student wellness and mental health, and investments that laid the foundation for the District’s College and Career Centers and workforce development initiatives.
“Serving the students, families and employees of Oklahoma City Public Schools has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Lewis said. “While this decision was not an easy one, it is the right one for my family as we begin a new chapter of life. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside dedicated Board members, superintendents, educators, employees and community partners over the past ten and a half years. I have always believed every child deserves access to an excellent public education, and it has been a privilege to help advance that mission. Although my service on the Board is coming to an end, my commitment to Oklahoma City Public Schools and to public education remains as strong as ever.”
Throughout her tenure, Lewis earned a reputation for leading with humility, collaboration and an unwavering focus on students. Colleagues often described her as a thoughtful listener and consensus builder who approached every decision through the lens of what was best for children. As both a Board member and the parent of two OKCPS students, she brought a unique perspective to Board deliberations, helping ensure the voices of students and families remained central to the district’s work.
Her commitment to public education also extended beyond Oklahoma City Public Schools through two years of service on the Oklahoma State School Boards Association Board of Directors, where she helped strengthen school board governance and educational leadership across Oklahoma.
“Paula Lewis’s dedicated service over the past decade has fundamentally strengthened Oklahoma City Public Schools,” said OKCPS Superintendent Dr. Jamie Polk. “Her strategic leadership and passionate advocacy for our students leave a lasting, positive mark on our entire district. While we will miss her guidance on the Board of Education, we are profoundly grateful for her years of partnership. We wish Chair Lewis and her family nothing but the best in their next chapter.”
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt praised Lewis’ leadership and service to the community.
“Paula Lewis has been a selfless and dedicated public servant during a time of great change and advancement in OKCPS,” Holt said. “The approval of major and historic infrastructure commitments, important modernization of the district, the hiring of talented superintendents, and the navigation of COVID-19 are just a few of the things that have happened during Paula’s historic tenure. I am so grateful for her leadership and her willingness to serve our city’s kids. She leaves an important and impactful legacy.”
Consistent with Oklahoma law and Board policy, Vice Chair Lori Bowman will assume the duties of Board Chair following Lewis’ departure, and the OKCPS Board of Education will discuss the Board leadership transition during Executive Session at its regularly scheduled meeting on August 17. Any actions regarding Board officer positions or related governance matters will be considered in accordance with Oklahoma law and Board policy.
Even as she stepped away, Lewis continued to put the focus on students by saying, “I am very hopeful that we can move through this announcement quickly so our students, families and Team OKCPS can turn their attention back to what matters most – “Back To School” preparations and excitement!”
Rhonda Baker, Director of Education, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, also thanked Lewis for her service to the district.
“Paula Lewis has dedicated a decade to serving Oklahoma City Public Schools with a steadfast focus on what is best for students and teachers,” said Baker. “The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is especially grateful for her partnership in building community support for historic bond initiatives, which will continue to transform learning environments and create new opportunities for generations of OKCPS students. Paula’s service has made a meaningful and lasting difference for our schools, our students and our city.”
Kendra Horn, President & CEO of Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, said, “Paula Lewis has been a steadfast champion for Oklahoma City Public Schools and an invaluable partner to the OKCPS Foundation. Her leadership helped strengthen the connection between the Foundation and the District, ensuring our work remained closely aligned with the needs of students, educators and schools. Paula understands that meaningful progress requires strong partnerships, clear strategy and a shared focus. We are deeply grateful for Paula’s thoughtful leadership, her belief in collaboration and her unwavering commitment to what is best for students. Her impact will continue to be felt throughout OKCPS and across our community for many years to come.”
Kevin S. Perry, President of Perry Publishing & Broadcasting Company, also thanked Lewis for the work she accomplished as Chair.
“Paula Lewis has done an extraordinary job as Chair of the Oklahoma City Public School Board of Education for the last nine years,” Perry said. “The fact that she served as Chair longer than anyone else in the history of OKCPS is a testament to her effectiveness in the position. On the strength of the proven results she achieved for the district’s children, she was re-elected twice, serving a total of three terms. Ms. Lewis has done a yeoman’s job as Chair, making sure all quadrants of the district had their needs met – including Northeast Oklahoma City. Under her leadership, test scores have improved, innovative tools have been used to educate the students, and capital improvements have taken place in the entire school system. She was instrumental in hiring Dr. Jamie Polk, a Black woman to serve as Superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools. The work and leadership of Ms. Lewis will continue to reverberate for years to come. We thank Ms. Lewis for her service to our most precious resource, our children, and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
A letter from Paula Lewis to readers of The Black Chronicle: A New Chapter, With Gratitude
Over the past ten and a half years, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the students, families and employees of Oklahoma City Public Schools as a member of the Board of Education.
As many of you have heard, my family and I have made the decision to move to Northeast Oklahoma City as we begin a new chapter of life. With two of our children now adults, the joy of becoming grandparents, and the blessing of still having our parents with us, we found a home that better fits this season of life. Because our new home is outside the boundaries of Oklahoma City Public Schools, my service on the Board has come to an end.
While I am sad to leave this role, I am incredibly excited to become part of the Northeast Oklahoma City community.
Throughout my years of service with Oklahoma City Public Schools, I have been fortunate to work alongside so many people who care deeply about the future of this community. Together, we’ve celebrated investments in neighborhood schools, expanded opportunities for young learners and strengthened pathways that prepare students for success after graduation. While there is always more work to do, I am grateful to have played a small part in those efforts.
Serving on the Board has always been personal to me because I wasn’t just making decisions as an elected official, I was also the parent of two OKCPS students. Like so many families, I wanted every child to have the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed. That perspective shaped every vote I cast and every decision I made, as I continually asked myself one simple question: What is best for kids?
Although my service on the Board is coming to an end, my commitment to OKCPS, to public education and to this community is not. My family and I look forward to becoming your neighbors, supporting local businesses, attending community events and continuing to cheer on the students, educators and families who make Northeast Oklahoma City such a special place.
Thank you for the kindness and support you have shown me over the years and for the warm welcome we have received. We are excited to begin this next chapter and look forward to getting to know many of you in the years ahead.
Paula Lewis
