Catherine Truitt
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Catherine Truitt
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Primary
Race
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Seattle, M.Ed., 1997
University of Maryland, College Park, BA, 1994
WORK & MILITARY
Military spouse, 30
AFFILIATIONS
Tammy Lynn Center, Board of Directors, NC Nurse-Family Partnership
Board Member, Crosspointe Church, Cary, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Superintendent of Public Instruction, 3
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (5)
Dan Forest
John Bell
Joyce Krawlec
Brad Overcash
Keith Kidwell
OTHER (3)
Vickie Sawyer
Timothy K. Moore
Kevin Corbin
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Senator Phil Berger
Dan Forest
Rep John Bell
Senator Ralph Hise
Rep Charlie Miller
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Republican Women's Organizations (2022)
Pat McCrory (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (26)
Brent Jackson (2023)
Charles F. Fuller (2023)
Charles Miller (NC) (2023)
Chris Humphrey (2023)
Dave Craven (2023)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Service Employees International Union (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
2021 interview with Catherine Truitt, when she had just been elected to Superintendent of Public Instruction. Some topics discussed below with time stamps:
- 8:01-10:03--institutional equity and competency-based education
- 19:27--intent to hire more nurses, psychologists, and social workers
- 20:48--school choice, charter schools, possibility of magnet schools leading to segregation and inequity of advanced classes
Article "Superintendent-Elect Catherine Truitt Announces New Hires to DPI Staff" from December of 2020, including Catherine Edmonds as the deputy superintendent of the Office of Equity.
2021 video interview with Catherine Truitt, with some transcribed clips and quotes. The interview covers a number of issues.
This article discusses Catherine Truitt's stance on not using Title IX to support transgender athletes in women's sports.
Article discussing Catherine Truitt's request for a delay on implementation of the Parents Bill of Rights, including her response.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion is not a federal issue; it belongs to the state and its voters. I am pro-life and will vote as such.
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
The school should inform the parent or guardian as this is a family matter. In North Carolina minors may not receive an abortion without parental consent, therefore the school should play no role other than to notify the parent or guardian.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
Display of the Ten Commandments is a longstanding tradition. The Ten Commandments espouse universal moral principles that are not the provenance of any one religion. (I understand that even the Koran contains versions of most of the Ten Commandments.) Our children will experience greater happiness in life if they seek to follow these basic principles.
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely! I am deeply concerned that “safe spaces” have become the exact opposite for many students.
Teachers should be required to instruct students on mandated curriculum even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
In North Carolina, academic standards are determined at the state level, and specific curriculum choices are made at the local level. There actually are not many mandatory topics that might conflict with the religious beliefs of a teacher, and principals should have little difficulty in making an accommodation.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and should be supported. We have a national interest in encouraging democracies around the world. There are also millions of Americans who maintain contact with relatives in Israel. As a state, I am proud to have worked for the administration who signed into law The Iran Divestment Act of 2015. This law allows North Carolina to hold companies accountable for their anti-Israel decisions.
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
From the Great White Fleet of Theodore Roosevelt to Reagan’s victory in the Cold War, the principle of “peace through strength” has been demonstrated. Petty dictators are no different than schoolyard bullies—they usually pick on the weaklings.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Our Social Security system already provides a safety net for the elderly and for those unable to work and earn an income. Expanding this to a universal “livable income” scheme would be disastrous for our culture and economy, as evidenced by various experiments around the country and world. I believe that everyone should have the freedom to prepare and better themselves, and to pursue opportunity as they desire.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Our State Constitution imbues the state legislature, not the courts, with responsibility for funding public schools (including public charter schools). Clear research demonstrates that after a basic floor, there is no correlation between the level of spending and student outcomes. How we prioritize our resources is much more important than how much we spend. It is not enough for us to teach students to think critically; we must prepare them to be productive citizens in a dynamic economy.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
The singular achievement of President Biden’s Department of Education has been to seek creative ways to discharge college student debt. This is unfair to taxpayers and to millions of students who made sacrifices or more responsible choices. States and local communities are more likely to be wise stewards of scarce education dollars than federal politicians. At most, the Department of Education should administer grants and not meddle in state and local decisions.
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
Our system of education should serve the students rather than those who administer it. I am in full support of a public education system that puts students first, which includes public charter schools, education savings accounts, magnet schools and opportunity scholarships.
Which type of written parental consent should be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)? (A) Opt-In. (B) Opt-Out. (C) None.
A (opt-in). Comprehensive sex education courses are currently illegal in North Carolina.
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
Government should not intervene in family matters.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, American History, Information Technology, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning, Foreign Language, Physical Fitness. Please note that in addition to core academic classes, Personal Finance and Computer Science are graduation requirements in NC.
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Disagree
Equipping teachers with information rather than weapons is a better way to keep students safe. The legislature has made it possible for any school who asks for an armed school resource officer on campus to have one as well as other hardening equipment.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. It is not the place of the public education system to require vaccinations.
ABOUT YOU
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Republican Primary 2022 General Election
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
I believe that as conservatives, we are all driving together on the same side of the street, even if sometimes that side of the street has two or three lanes.
VALUES
Children have the right to be protected from sexual grooming including drag shows, explicit materials in schools and libraries, and other public venues.
Strongly Agree
In 2023, I drafted HB142 which would require all 6-12th grade students in the entire state to view a video the first week of every school year explaining what sexual grooming is and how to avoid it. It also increased penalties for those licensed professionals who participate in this behavior. Another of my key legislative bills was combined with legislation requiring age verification for online porn sites, and passed unanimously as HB8. I am proud that both are now law in North Carolina.
Marriage between one man and one woman and the families they form are the foundation of civilization and are fundamental to the well-being and prosperity of society.
Agree
Research shows that children with two parents are more likely to be healthy, thrive academically, and become gainfully employed.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely, and we should seek to resist any attempts to water down parental notification laws in North Carolina.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a nondenominational Christian who believe that God, through His son Jesus, wants to have a personal relationship with all of us. I rely on Christ daily for guidance through prayer. My husband and I have been married for 29 years and have three amazing children. In May 2023, he retired from military service after 30 years. Education is my life’s work and I believe that the purpose of public education is to prepare all students to be enlisted, employed, or enrolled when they graduate from high school. I work in education because I believe the surest pathway to prosperity in America is a high quality K-12 education, no matter whether delivered by a neighborhood school, private school, or a homeschool. A parent knows what’s best.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
It is absolutely critical that we have an electoral system that is fair, open, and reliable. Felons, non-citizens, the deceased, and out-of-staters should not be voting in our elections! Our Government has made it extremely easy to obtain an identification and voting participation rates of minorities often exceed those of traditional majorities. Photo identification is a necessary component of a reliable voting system.
EQUALITY
I support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Strongly Disagree
Martin Luther King, Jr. would not recognize DEI programs today because they run directly counter to his desire for a world in which “we are judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character…”
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
As the mother of two female athletes, I stand for safety and common sense laws around privacy and participation in sports. Biology should be the standard for defining sex.
