Atkinson running again

June Atkinson is running for re-election.

The state superintendent of public instruction, who has been in office since 2005, said her campaign will focus on increasing the state's graduation rate, which is 69.4 percent.

"We are educating the millennials, young people who have grown up with technology," she said. "To engage them in learning, we have to take advantage of the tools they consider second nature."

She said she would also focus on improving professional development for teachers.

Atkinson will participate in the state's new public campaign financing for her office and two other statewide posts.

She could face Eddie Davis, president of the N.C. Association of Educators, in the Democratic primary. Davis has said he is considering a run, but has not publicly decided yet.

Correction: An earlier version of the post misstated the graduation rate.