On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum is joined by former state superintendent of public instruction Dr. June Atkinson. She made history as the first woman elected for the position and held it from 2005 through 2016. This month, after six months of court drama, the nation’s final 2024 race ended with State Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs being sworn in. 

While many people today might think it was one of the longest delayed races ever, think again. It was 20 years ago that Dr. June Atkinson had her own race, but she didn’t take office until August of that following year.

On top of that, it ended up being decided by the General Assembly. 

They were very deliberate because they realized that this could happen again. So they wanted to make sure it was fair,” she said. “In the law, it was stipulated that there would be a paper ballot. You’d have to have a convening of the Senate and the House, and they would declare the winner.”

But, as she explains in the podcast, the bill had to be ratified, or made official, by the Governor first.

The N.C. State alum tells us the incredible story with all kinds of behind-the-scenes details. Later, they discuss the future of education governance and the U.S. Department of Education.