Catherine Truitt
{{Short description|24th North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Catherine Truitt
| image = Catherine Truitt testifies before Congress.png
| office = 21st North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
| governor = Roy Cooper
| term_start = January 2, 2021
| term_end = January 1, 2025
| predecessor = Mark Johnson
| successor = Mo Green
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|49|2020|1|17}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Jeff Truitt
| children = 3
| education = University of Maryland, College Park (BA)
University of Washington (MEd)
}}
Catherine Truitt (born 1970){{cite web |last1=Northam |first1=Mitchell |last2=Jacobs |first2=Rusty |title=2020 North Carolina Election: Breaking Down Statewide Races |url=https://www.wunc.org/post/2020-north-carolina-election-breaking-down-statewide-races |accessdate=January 15, 2021 |publisher=WUNC |date=September 21, 2020}} is an American educator and politician who served as the 21st North Carolina superintendent of public instruction from January 2, 2021 until January 1, 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Truitt previously served as senior advisor on education to North Carolina governor Pat McCrory from 2015 to 2017. She has been the chancellor of the online Western Governors University North Carolina since its establishment in 2017. Truitt ran for reelection in 2024, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Michele Morrow.
Education
Truitt studied English at the University of Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. She went on to earn a Master of Education from the University of Washington in 1997.{{Cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Alexis |title=State Superintendent Elect's Plan for Public Schools |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2020/11/23/catherine-truitt-profile |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=Spectrum News |date=November 23, 2020}}
Career
=Teaching career=
According to Truitt, her husband Jeff's role in the U.S. Navy Reserves resulted in frequent moves, and she taught in a variety of locations, including at West Johnston High School in Benson, North Carolina from 2009 to 2012.
=Senior education advisor to Governor McCrory=
In October 2015, North Carolina governor Pat McCrory announced his selection of Truitt for senior education advisor to replace Eric Guckian, who left to work for the nonprofit Leadership for Educational Equity. In his announcement, McCrory said that Truitt's selection would "help us to build on the progress we’ve made to ensure every North Carolina student is equipped with the skills they need to begin a career or further their education."{{Cite news |last1=Granados |first1=Alex |title=New senior education advisor joins governor's ranks |url=https://www.ednc.org/new-senior-education-advisor-joins-governors-ranks/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=EducationNC |date=October 20, 2015}} Truitt met with demonstrators during a June 2016 protest of McCrory's education policies.{{Cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |title=14 arrested at teacher protest in downtown Raleigh |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article84023702.html |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=June 15, 2016}}
She stayed in the role until McCrory left office after the 2016 gubernatorial election.
=Western Governors University North Carolina=
Truitt received an offer in 2017 to serve as chancellor of a new North Carolina affiliate of the online college Western Governors University. She accepted and the school was established in October 2017.{{Cite news |last1=Ferraro |first1=Greg |title=WGU to Grant $1 Million in Online Access Scholarships to Close the Digital Divide Learning Gap |url=https://www.nevadabusiness.com/2020/09/wgu-to-grant-1-million-in-online-access-scholarships-to-close-the-digital-divide-learning-gap/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=Nevada Business |date=September 3, 2020}}
=North Carolina superintendent of public instruction=
{{See also|2020 North Carolina Council of State elections#Superintendent of Public Instruction}}
In the run-up to the 2020 elections, Truitt said she would consider a run for North Carolina superintendent of public instruction if incumbent Mark Johnson did not run again.{{Cite news |last1=Granados |first1=Alex |title=Rep. Craig Horn for state superintendent? How many people want the top education spot |url=https://www.ednc.org/rep-craig-horn-for-state-superintendent-how-many-people-want-the-top-education-spot/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=EducationNC |date=October 24, 2019}} Johnson announced his bid for lieutenant governor in November 2019,{{Cite news |last1=Hui |first1=T. Keung |title=State Superintendent Mark Johnson joins the field seeking to be NC lieutenant governor |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article236902763.html |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=November 12, 2019}} and Truitt subsequently entered the race for state superintendent.{{Cite news |last1=Granados |first1=Alex |title=Superintendent Mark Johnson will run for Lt. Gov., so who's running for superintendent? |url=https://www.ednc.org/superintendent-mark-johnson-will-run-for-lt-gov-so-whos-running-for-superintendent/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=EducationNC |date=November 12, 2019}}
Truitt defeated state representative D. Craig Horn in the Republican primary.{{Cite news |last1=Rao |first1=Sonia |title=Jen Mangrum and Catherine Truitt to face off in November superintendent election |url=https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/03/nc-superintendent-primary-0303 |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=The Daily Tar Heel |date=March 3, 2020}} In the general election, Truitt defeated Democrat Jen Mangrum.{{Cite news |last1=Rash |first1=Mebane |last2=Granados |first2=Alex |title=Election Day 2020: 'We have to put students at the center' |url=https://www.ednc.org/election-day-2020-we-have-to-put-students-at-the-center/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=EducationNC |date=November 4, 2020}} She was sworn in on January 2, 2021, and repeated her oath at Governor Roy Cooper's inaugural ceremony on January 9.{{Cite news |title='We are more connected than we ever imagined': Cooper calls for unity in inaugural address |url=https://www.wral.com/we-are-more-connected-than-we-ever-imagined-cooper-calls-for-unity-in-inaugural-address/19463027/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=WRAL |date=January 9, 2021}}{{Cite news |last1=Rash |first1=Mebane |title=State Superintendent Catherine Truitt takes the lead of the Department of Public Instruction |url=https://www.ednc.org/state-superintendent-catherine-truitt-takes-the-lead-of-the-department-of-public-instruction/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=EducationNC |date=January 4, 2021}}
Truitt ran for reelection in 2024, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Michele Morrow.{{cite news |title=Home-school advocate stuns NC schools superintendent incumbent Catherine Truitt in GOP primary |url=https://abc11.com/nc-election-results-state-superintendent-michele-morrow-catherine-truitt/14495720/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |publisher=WTVD |date=March 6, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Robertson | first=Gary D. | title=North Carolina schools chief loses primary to home-schooling parent critical of 'radical agendas' | website=AP News | date=6 March 2024 | url=https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-election-superintendent-runoffs-legislature-d7339a3264fd1af5be23f6c216c759e8 | access-date=20 May 2024}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change |title = North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican primary election, 2020{{Cite web |title=03/03/2020 Official Local Election Results - Statewide |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=03/03/2020&county_id=0&office=COS&contest=2707 |access-date=January 14, 2021 |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Catherine Truitt
| party = North Carolina Republican Party
| votes = 391,915
| percentage = 56.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = D. Craig Horn
| party = North Carolina Republican Party
| votes = 299,578
| percentage = 43.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 691,493
| percentage= 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title = North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction general election, 2020{{Cite web |title=11/03/2020 Official Local Election Results - Statewide |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2020&county_id=0&office=COS&contest=1342 |access-date=January 14, 2021 |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate = Catherine Truitt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,753,219
| percentage = 51.4
| change = +0.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate = Jen Mangrum
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,605,169
| percentage = 48.6
| change = −0.8%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 5,358,388
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title = North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican primary election, 2024{{Cite web |title=03/05/2024 OFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=03/05/2024&county_id=0&office=COS&contest=0 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michele Morrow
| party = North Carolina Republican Party
| votes = 457,151
| percentage = 52.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Catherine Truitt
| party = North Carolina Republican Party
| votes = 420,270
| percentage = 47.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 877,421
| percentage= 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Truitt lives in Cary, North Carolina with her husband, Jeff Truitt, a reservist in the U.S. Navy. They have three children.{{Cite news |last1=Hart |first1=Lea |title=Catherine Truitt |url=https://www.carymagazine.com/features/welcome-to-the-2019-women-of-western-wake/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=The 2019 Women of Western Wake |publisher=Cary Magazine |date=August 30, 2019}}{{Cite news |last1=Huffman |first1=Dane |title=2021 People to Watch: NCDPI Superintendent Catherine Truitt |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2021/01/08/2021-people-to-watch-catherine-truitt.html |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=Triangle Business Journal |date=January 8, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dpi.nc.gov/about-dpi/state-superintendent-public-instruction NC DPI: State Superintendent of Public Instruction] official government website
- [https://catherinetruitt.com/ Catherine Truitt for State Superintendent] official campaign website
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Mark Johnson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction|years=2020 }}
{{s-aft|after=Michele Morrow}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Mark Johnson}}
{{s-ttl|title=North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction|years=2021–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Mo Green}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Truitt, Catherine}}
Category:20th-century American educators
Category:21st-century American educators
Category:21st-century North Carolina politicians
Category:North Carolina Republicans
Category:North Carolina superintendents of public instruction
Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni