June Atkinson is the first woman elected State Superintendent  of the Public  Schools of North Carolina and served in that position from August 2005 until December 2016.  She currently serves as the CEO for Emerald Education.

During her tenure as State Superintendent, she led efforts to move the high school graduation rate from 68 percent to an all-time high of nearly 86 percent.  She has visited all 115 North Carolina school districts and devoted her time as State Superintendent to listening to the voices of educators, parents, students, and business people and working to make positive changes for students. 

During her career, she has served as chief consultant and director in the areas of business education, career and technical education and instructional services within NCDPI.  A former business education teacher in Roanoke, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina, June has been involved in professional development, instruction, and curriculum development throughout her career.

She has received numerous awards such as the Champion of Children Award from the North Carolina Association of School Administrators, The State Policy Maker of the Year Award from the National Association for State Educational Technology Directors, Friends of the Arts Award from the North Carolina Arts Education Association, and the North Carolina Association of Educators’ Inclusive Leadership Award.  Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational society, awarded her its prestigious Founders Awards. She has been inducted into the East Carolina University Education Hall of Fame, been recognized as an outstanding alumna of North Carolina State University and received the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Razor Walker Award. She has also received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Frances Jones Trailblazer Award from NCASCD.  The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce awarded her its public service award at one of its annual meetings.

 In addition, June has held many professional offices including the President of the National Business Education Association, and Presidents of the National Council of Chief State School Officers and the state directors of career technical national association, now Advance  CTE. 

She received a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Radford University, a master’s degree in Vocational and Technical Education from Virginia Tech, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from North Carolina State University.  Campbell University has awarded her a doctorate of Human Letters.

She is married to Dr. William Gurley, a Cary orthodontist, and is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Cary.