| Superintendent of Public Instruction of North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction | |
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| Member of | Council of State |
| Seat | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Term length | Four years |
| Inaugural holder | Calvin H. Wiley |
| Formation | January 1, 1853 |
| Website | www.dpi.nc.gov |
The North Carolina superintendent of public instruction is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As the head of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the superintendent oversees the public school systems of the state. They also serve as the secretary of the North Carolina State Board of Education and are a member of the North Carolina Council of State. The incumbent is Catherine Truitt, who became superintendent on January 2, 2021.
The position of state superintendent was originally created in 1852 to run the new Department of Public Instruction. The office was abolished in 1865 but reestablished by the 1868 state constitution as a member of the new State Board of Education. The duties of the superintendent have been altered over time by the North Carolina General Assembly. A new state constitution in 1971 designated the superintendent as the secretary of the Board of Education, but removed the office's voting power on the body. The relationship between the superintendent and the board since the 1960s has been characterized by conflict and confusion over their responsibilities.