DURHAM, N.C. — Lifelong educator Catherine Truitt is the new state superintendent of public instruction elect.

Truitt said the first thing her administration will tackle is early literacy. 

"I thought that I was going to feel this sense of elation," said Truitt post-election. "And instead it was okay, what do we do next - and I know exactly what to do next." 

According to National Assessment of Educational Progress, more than 60% of North Carolina 8th graders are not proficient in reading or math.

"Twenty-eight percent of our Hispanic students are reading and doing math proficiently, and only 14% of African-American students are," Truitt said. "This has got to change."

The state superintendent elect plans to bring about this change with research-based early literacy strategies to educators.

Truitt said her other priorities include ensuring all high school graduates are college and career ready, granting local educators the flexibility to make decisions for their students, and collaborating with experts for equitable funding of public schools.

Truitt is currently the chancellor of Western Governors University North Carolina. The online university focuses on providing higher education opportunities to North Carolinians with some college credits, but no degree.

In 2015, Governor Pat McCrory appointed Truitt to serve as his senior advisor on education.

She graduated from the University of Maryland in 1994 with a bachelors of arts in English. In 1997, she received her master's in education from the University of Washington.