Baker's State Appointment Opens Stillwater Ward 5 Board Seat
Applications to fill the vacancy close June 25; Baker's first state board meeting is Monday
Dr. Marshall Baker has resigned from the Stillwater Board of Education following his appointment to the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, a move required under state law that prohibits serving on both boards simultaneously, according to a release from Stillwater Public Schools.
Baker's resignation was accepted at a special board meeting June 4. His Ward 5 term was scheduled to run through 2030.
The appointment was not something Baker pursued. He said the governor's office reached out after his name surfaced as a candidate for a seat vacated when a sitting board member relocated out of state.
"Somebody had left on really good terms, but it did leave a vacancy, and I had kind of a unique set of experiences to serve the state in this role," Baker said. "I think the state of Oklahoma has got education on the mind, and this is the perfect time to raise my hand."
The Decision
Baker said he discussed the offer with his wife and with Superintendent Tyler Bridges and fellow board member Gay Washington before accepting, focusing on whether his departure would negatively impact students and families.
"I've never been more confident," Baker said. "There are some incredibly talented people in my ward that will bring new, fresh ideas. Stillwater is not going to crumble because I leave."
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He pushed back on any suggestion that the appointment reflects political ambition.
"If you want to politically climb, there's probably other paths. These paths are service focused, service minded," he said.
Baker said he will continue serving the Stillwater community.
"They're not getting rid of me," he said. "I'm going to be at everything I've always been at. It's just when they call roll call for Ward 5, there will be another exciting, cool new set of ideas represented on the board seat."
Filling The Seat
The Stillwater board opened an application process to fill the Ward 5 vacancy June 4. Applications will be accepted starting at 9 a.m. Friday, June 5 through 4 p.m. June 25 at stillwaterschools.com/board. Applicants must reside within Ward 5.
The board plans to swear in the appointee at its regular July 14 meeting. Because the vacancy occurs during the first half of Baker's current term, the appointee will serve until a special election is held in 2027.
Baker offered a message for those considering applying.
"This isn't something you win. This is raising your hand to serve," he said.
He urged Ward 5 residents who feel called to public service to apply regardless of uncertainty about the outcome.
For questions about the application process, contact Board Clerk Tawni Hooten at 405-533-6300.
Superintendent Tyler Bridges praised Baker's tenure.
"The countless hours he has invested in our students, staff, and community have left a lasting positive impact," Bridges said.
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The New Role
The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board is a nine-member body that authorizes charter and virtual charter schools, oversees their operations, establishes application procedures, and develops online learning options for Oklahoma students. The governor's office appointed Baker to fill a vacancy among its three gubernatorial appointees.
At its April 13 regular meeting, board Chairman Brian T. Shellem announced that member Britni Tomcho "will also be leaving the Board in the coming months." Tomcho is one of the board's three gubernatorial appointees. The governor's office had not confirmed Baker as Tomcho's specific replacement as of publication. The board's third gubernatorial appointee is listed as Amber Hidy on the board's website and as Amber Wise in the April 13 meeting minutes.
Baker joins a board chaired by Shellem, with Damon Gardenhire serving as vice chairman. He is expected to attend his first meeting as an appointee Monday, June 8, at 1 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr., Oklahoma City.
The June 8 agenda includes performance framework reviews for seven charter schools, renewal decisions for two schools, and action on the appointment of a closing officer for Proud to Partner Leadership Academy, a southwest Oklahoma City charter high school the board voted unanimously to shut down in May after finding it failed to meet financial, academic, and operational standards.
As an incumbent school board member with no break in service, Baker will be required to complete at least six hours of training within 15 months of his appointment in school finance, legal issues, and ethics and board duties, according to state law.
Baker's Charter School Experience
Baker brings prior experience in charter school authorization. Before transitioning to his current role as a senior user experience researcher at YouVersion — the widely used Bible app — he worked in Texas alongside charter authorizers to establish student achievement expectations and evaluate school performance, work that mirrors the state board's oversight mission.
Baker described charter authorization as a contractual relationship between a school and its overseeing body.
"We owe it to kids and families to make sure that schools are doing right by kids," he said. "That authorizing process plays a part in ensuring kids and families have high-quality schools."
Baker has served on the Stillwater board since 2021 and previously served from 2017 to 2018, holding leadership roles including board president and vice president. Before joining the board, he served the district as principal of Lincoln Alternative Academy and principal of Stillwater Junior High School. He holds a doctorate from Oklahoma State University and has been elected to the Ward 5 seat three times.
Baker said he believes his membership in the Pahara Fellowship likely brought his name to the governor's attention. The Pahara Institute is a national organization that connects public school superintendents, charter school executives, and education experts through a selective leadership program. Baker completed the formal portion of the fellowship in May.
The governor's office had not released a formal statement on the appointment as of publication.
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