OKCPS Board Names State Commerce Secretary As Interim Superintendent

The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education has selected Dave Lopez to be the district's interim superintendent when the current leader of OKCPS steps down.

Lopez, 62, is the state Secretary of Commerce. He resigned from that post, effective Friday, to act as interim superintendent for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year. He replaces Karl Springer, who led the district for five years. Springer's last day is Friday, August 30.

8/21/2013 Related Story: OKC School Board To Meet To Discuss Interim Superintendent

OKCPS says Lopez is not a candidate for the permanent job. The school board has already voted to hire a firm to help with a national search for the next superintendent.

Lynne Hardin, the chairwoman of the Oklahoma City school board, says Lopez's mix of business skills and passion for education "will provide an important perspective" for the district.

Lopez is bilingual and a second-generation American whose grandparents were from Mexico and Spain.

He has a bachelor's degree in English and journalism, and a master's degree in education from New Mexico State University.

"There are 45,000 reasons to accept this opportunity to serve," said Lopez. "Neither of my parents graduated from high school so I understand the value of education and what it means for our city's children. Education can and should be life-changing."