Catherine Truitt

Catherine Truitt (born 1970) 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.

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. Truitt met with demonstrators during a June 2016 protest of McCrory's education policies.

She stayed in the role until McCrory left office after the 2016 gubernatorial election.

North Carolina 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. Johnson announced his bid for lieutenant governor in November 2019, and Truitt subsequently entered the race for state superintendent.

Truitt defeated state representative D. Craig Horn in the Republican primary. In the general election, Truitt defeated Democrat Jen Mangrum. She was sworn in on January 2, 2021, and repeated her oath at Governor Roy Cooper's inaugural ceremony on January 9.

Truitt ran for reelection in 2024, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Michele Morrow.

Electoral history

Personal life Truitt lives in Cary, North Carolina with her husband, Jeff Truitt, a reservist in the U.S. Navy. They have three children.