Katie Eddings, a personal finance teacher at Lee Early College in Sanford and an educator in North Carolina public schools for over 20 years, announced this week she is running for state superintendent of public instruction in the 2024 election.
Eddings, a registered Democrat, was the 2019 North Carolina North Central Region (Lee, Harnett, Chatham and Orange) Teacher of the Year and Lee County’s 2018 Teacher of the Year. She joined LCS in 2015, initially accepting an offer to teach AVID after serving as an assistant principal in Moore County. She is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
In a video she posted on June 27, Eddings stood in front of an old small schoolhouse backed by family members and said public school teachers have been part of her family for over 100 years. She said teachers have had to sacrifice too much in North Carolina, and she’s entering the race to be an advocate for them, as well as students.
“It’s time for change for our teachers, for our children and for the future of public education in North Carolina,” Eddings said. “I’m excited about meeting most of you as I travel the state over the next 12 months. I want to hear your concerns. I want to hear your ideas about public education as it concerns your students, your children, your grandchildren and even your great grandchildren. I need your support.”
North Carolina’s current superintendent of public instruction is Catherine Truitt, a Republican from Cary. Truitt defeated Democrat Jen Mangum in the November 2020 election by a 51.4-48.6 percent margin.
