June Atkinson
Encyclopedia
June St. Clair Atkinson was elected North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
on November 3, 2004, in a race that was decided by the North Carolina General Assembly
on August 23, 2005. She was re-elected in 2008. Dr. Atkinson is the first woman to be elected to the post of State Superintendent, and an ex offico member of the North Carolina Council of State.
As State Superintendent, Dr. Atkinson organizes and manages the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
(DPI), and is secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of the North Carolina State Board of Education
. In 2009, Atkinson sued Gov. Beverly Perdue after the Governor appointed a Chief Executive Officer of the Public School-System, reducing Atkinson to an "ambassador for education." Atkinson contested under the North Carolina Constitution
and a Wake County, North Carolina
superior court judge ruled in her favor on July 17, 2009.
, where she attended public schools and graduated from Staunton River High School
, Moneta, Virginia
, in 1966. She received a B.S. in Business Education from Radford University
in 1969, an M.S. in Vocational and Technical Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
in 1974, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from North Carolina State University
in 1996. After graduating from Radford, Dr. Atkinson taught high school in Roanoke, Virginia
, and Charlotte, North Carolina
. In Charlotte, Dr. Atkinson's teaching assignment required that she work with business people to find meaningful employment for her students.
Atkinson has made presentations to business and other educational groups in 43 states and throughout North Carolina
. She is past president of the National Business Education Association, and past president of the Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools that Work in 1995-96 and 1996-97. Dr. Atkinson was elected by her colleagues to represent them as President of the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium for 2001-2003.
orthodontist and former assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Dentistry. She has one sister, two nephews and one niece. She is a member of The United Methodist Church
.
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is the elected head of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and oversees the public school systems of the state. The Superintendent is currently an elected member of the North Carolina Council of State, chosen in a partisan...
on November 3, 2004, in a race that was decided by the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
on August 23, 2005. She was re-elected in 2008. Dr. Atkinson is the first woman to be elected to the post of State Superintendent, and an ex offico member of the North Carolina Council of State.
As State Superintendent, Dr. Atkinson organizes and manages the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction oversees the public school system in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The DPI is headed by the State Superintendent and the North Carolina State Board of Education...
(DPI), and is secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of the North Carolina State Board of Education
North Carolina State Board of Education
The North Carolina State Board of Education, established by Article 9 of the North Carolina Constitution, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina...
. In 2009, Atkinson sued Gov. Beverly Perdue after the Governor appointed a Chief Executive Officer of the Public School-System, reducing Atkinson to an "ambassador for education." Atkinson contested under the North Carolina Constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
and a Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
superior court judge ruled in her favor on July 17, 2009.
Early life and education
Dr. Atkinson grew up in rural Bedford County, VirginiaBedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
, where she attended public schools and graduated from Staunton River High School
Staunton River High School
Staunton River High School is one of the three high schools in Bedford County, Virginia. SRHS opened in 1964.-Mission statement:The primary mission of Staunton River High School isto assist all students in acquiring the knowledge...
, Moneta, Virginia
Moneta, Virginia
Moneta is an unincorporated community in Bedford County, Virginia, United States, along Route 122 between Bedford and Rocky Mount; Route 122 follows a bypass around the community....
, in 1966. She received a B.S. in Business Education from Radford University
Radford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
in 1969, an M.S. in Vocational and Technical Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
in 1974, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
in 1996. After graduating from Radford, Dr. Atkinson taught high school in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, and Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. In Charlotte, Dr. Atkinson's teaching assignment required that she work with business people to find meaningful employment for her students.
Career
Dr. Atkinson worked for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for nearly 28 years (1976-2004) as a chief consultant and director in the areas of business education, career and technical education, and instructional services. A former business education teacher, Dr. Atkinson has been involved in instruction and curriculum development throughout her career.Atkinson has made presentations to business and other educational groups in 43 states and throughout North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. She is past president of the National Business Education Association, and past president of the Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools that Work in 1995-96 and 1996-97. Dr. Atkinson was elected by her colleagues to represent them as President of the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium for 2001-2003.
Family
Dr. Atkinson is married to Dr. William Gurley, a Cary, North CarolinaCary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
orthodontist and former assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
School of Dentistry. She has one sister, two nephews and one niece. She is a member of The United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
.