State secretary of state drops education role

Oklahoma Secretary of Education Michael Rogers re signed his position Wednesday.

In a lengthy email to Gov. Kevin Stitt, Rogers said he was proud of his accomplishments serving the administration in multiple roles.

"As I audit my time and my priorities, it has become clear I should no longer juggle an agency, negotiating your policy priorities, and serving as your Secretary of Education," he wrote in an email obtained through a public records request.

A former state legislator, Rogers also said he was stepping down as the governor's chief policy negotiator — a role that had him working closely with the Legislature. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2014.

However, Rogers t old The Oklahoman he will remain on as secretary of state.

"I'm purely going to focus on my secretary of state position," Rogers said. "It's a constitutional position that's coterminous with the governor, so I've got a little over two years left."

In his resignation, Rogers lists a series of improvements he's already made in the secretary of state's office and others he'd like to focus on moving forward. He said he was excited for the opportunity to devote all his energy to the secretary of state job.

As a member of the House, Rogers served as chairman of the House Common Education Committee. Stitt appointed Rogers to serve as his education secretary in January 2019, after having already tapped him to serve as secretary of state.

The governor has not yet appointed a new education secretary, but Stitt announced Thursday former state senator Brian Bingman would serve as his chief policy adviser.

"I know you will find a great successor who will continue to carry out the education policy i deas you desire," Rogers wrote to the governor.

Rogers's resignation comes just weeks after the governor's chief of staff announced his resignation. Two additional cabinet secretaries announced their resignations this summer and were swiftly replaced by the governor.

Rogers