Mark Johnson (North Carolina politician)

Mark Johnson is an American attorney and politician who is currently North Carolina's Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was first elected in 2016, narrowly defeating incumbent June Atkinson.[2]

Mark Johnson
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
Assumed office
January 1, 2017
GovernorRoy Cooper
Preceded byJune Atkinson
Personal details
Born1982/1983 (age 36–37)[1]
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Rachel Johnson
EducationEmory University (BA)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (JD)

Prior to his election as state superintendent, Johnson was a member of the Forsyth County School Board, taught at West Charlotte High School for two years with Teach for America, and served as a high-tech lawyer for a Winston-Salem–based corporation.[1][3]

Early life and education

Johnson was born in 1983 in Louisiana and graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. He then attended Emory University in Atlanta, where he earned degrees in political science and environmental studies. He later attended UNC School of Law in Chapel Hill.[4]

Prior to attending law school, Johnson taught at West Charlotte High School, a high-poverty high school for two years through the Teach for America program.[5]

Political career
Johnson greeting students

In 2019, Johnson supported a plan to provide all teachers with a salary increase of at least 5 percent by 2030, which would allow the average teacher salary in North Carolina to approach the median 2019 household income in North Carolina. He also proposed to increase funding for textbooks and digital media.[6]

In December 2019, Johnson filed to be a candidate for North Carolina Lt. Governor.[7] On March 3, 2020, Johnson lost his bid to be the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor.

Electoral history
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2016[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic June Atkinson (inc.) 2,231,903 49.40
Republican Mark Johnson 2,285,783 50.60
North Carolina Lt. Governor Republican Primary, 2020[9]
Candidate Votes %
Mark Robinson 239,844 32.52
Andy Wells 107,349 14.56
Mark Johnson 88,840 12.05
John L. Ritter 84,567 11.47
Renee Ellmers 50,323 6.82
Greg Gebhardt 50,207 6.81
Deborah Cochran 48,062 6.52

References
  1. Hinchcliffe, Kelly (November 21, 2016). "Ousted NC superintendent on 33-year-old successor: 'How do I help an infant in public education?'". WRAL.com.
  2. The New York TImes (December 13, 2016). "North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Results: Mark Johnson Wins".
  3. Elect Mark Johnson. "About MARK". Archived from the original on August 27, 2017.
  4. "Mark R. Johnson".
  5. "Next NC superintendent's Teach for America work was foundation for education views".
  6. Staff. "#NC2030: NC Superintendent Mark Johnson proposes 5% increase for teachers".
  7. Journal, Wesley Young Winston-Salem. "SPI Mark Johnson, former Forsyth school board member, files for lieutenant governor". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  8. "11/08/2016 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  9. "03/03/2016 UNOFFICIAL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
June Atkinson		 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
2017–present		 Incumbent
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