were responsible both to the superintendent and the board, came into frequent use during Bob Etheridge's tenure as the superintendent. June Atkinson, who was sworn in in 2005, was the first woman elected to the office. In 2009, Governor Bev Perdue attempted to circumvent Atkinson's authority by appointing a chief executive officer to run the Department of Public Instruction, effectively rendering the superintendent a symbolic official. The governor justified her decision by arguing that it was "adding accountability and clear direction to a system that is badly in need of both." Atkinson sued to assert her leadership over the department, and the Wake County Superior Court decided in her favor, ruling that she was in charge of the chief executive officer. In 2016 the General Assembly passed legislation transferring some of the board's powers to the superintendent. The board sued to block the law, and in 2018 the Supreme Court of North Carolina ruled that the superintendent was responsible "over all matters relating to the direct supervision and administration of the public school system" while also affirming that the board had "ultimate authority under the Constitution to supervise and administer the state's public school system" and that the board can determine "the mechanics of the relationship between the Board and the Superintendent, as well as how their respective departments will operate internally." In wake of the decision, Superintendent Mark Johnson eliminated dual reporting positions, making all such employees responsible only to him. The incumbent, Catherine Truitt, was sworn in to the office on January 2, 2021. Duties and structure The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the only constitutional officer in North Carolina assigned responsibilities solely concerning public education. The office holder is not subject to term limits. In the event of a vacancy in the office, the Governor of North Carolina has the authority to appoint a successor until a candidate is elected at the next general election for members of the General Assembly. Per Article III, Section 8 of the constitution, the superintendent sits on the Council of State. The State Board of Education is responsible for setting education policy, and the superintendent serves as the board's secretary and chief administrative officer. The superintendent is not themselves a formal member of the board. The superintendent is empowered by general statute to appoint a local school system superintendent to serve as one of eight advisory members on the board. As