June Atkinson

Last updated
June Atkinson
June Atkinson.png
Atkinson in 2016
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
November 3, 2004 –January 1, 2017

Atkinson grew up in rural Bedford County, Virginia, 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, Atkinson taught high school in Roanoke, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. In Charlotte, Atkinson's teaching assignment required that she work with business people to find meaningful employment for her students.

Career

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, 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. 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. 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.

Atkinson speaking at a forum on STEM education in 2012 June Atkinson 2012.jpg
Atkinson speaking at a forum on STEM education in 2012

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." [4] Atkinson contested under the Constitution of North Carolina [5] and a Wake County, North Carolina superior court judge ruled in her favor on July 17, 2009. [6]

Ahead of the 2012 general election, Atkinson was endorsed by the News and Observer editorial board, which wrote: "Test scores among the state’s public school students have improved, and Atkinson, a Democrat, is a strong advocate for ample education resources. Wake County school board member John Tedesco, Atkinson’s Republican challenger, had yard signs with the slogan 'Our students deserve better.' Well, yes. Tedesco no doubt is sincere in wanting to see all students succeed, but his policies in Wake would have cut against the interests of students from poor backgrounds. He also has played a role in turning the Wake board into a partisan battleground in an effort to advance GOP fortunes." [7]

Family

Atkinson is married to William Gurley, a Cary, North Carolina 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.

Electoral history

North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticMarshall Stewart135,34835.19
DemocraticJune Atkinson132,04134.33
DemocraticJ. B. Buxton117,27430.49
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Runoff Election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune Atkinson44,17555.17
DemocraticMarshall Stewart35,89344.83
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune Atkinson1,655,71950.13
RepublicanBill Fletcher1,647,18449.87
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2008
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune St. Clair Atkinson (inc.)660,55652.86
DemocraticEddie Davis589,12647.14
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2008
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune St. Clair Atkinson (inc.)2,177,93453.66
RepublicanRichard Morgan1,881,07546.34
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune Atkinson (inc.)2,336,44154.24
RepublicanJohn Tedesco1,971,04945.76
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2016
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune Atkinson (inc.)776,30279.78
DemocraticHenry Pankey196,70320.22
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2016 [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJune Atkinson (inc.)2,231,90349.40
RepublicanMark Johnson2,285,78350.60

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References

  1. ↑ "Chapter_115C" (PDF). www.ncleg.net.
  2. ↑ Clasen-Kelly, Fred. "NC education superintendent: Johnson defeats incumbent Atkinson". The Charlotte Observer. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Ousted NC superintendent on 33-year-old successor: 'How do I help an infant in public education?'". WRAL. Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Mildwruf, Bruce. "Atkinson: Room for only one education chief"
  5. ↑ Bonner, Lynn. "Atkinson fights to lead DPI." News & Observer
  6. ↑ News & Observer: Atkinson wins right to run public schools Archived 2009-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ News & Observer endorsements for Council of State Archived 2012-11-03 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "11/08/2016 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
2004–2017		Succeeded by
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