Debra A. Herlihy

Debra Herlihy, a Republican, is running for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2026. With 25 years of experience in education-focused programming and project management, she aims to bring exceptional value to Oklahoma's K-12 public schools. Her current professional background includes work as a Senior Research Analyst, an adjunct professor teaching Artificial Intelligence, and an entrepreneur with a web design business. As a "Student's Voice for Oklahoma," she advocates for enhancing early literacy, improving student attendance through mental health support and barrier removal, and actively retaining teachers by increasing funding, professional development, and the percentage of school budgets spent directly in the classroom, including the expansion of STREAM programs and AI in education.